A rare case of Sweet syndrome secondary to melioidosis

Melioidosis is an emerging infection in South East Asia and Australia [1]. An increasing number of cases of melioidosis were reported in Sri Lanka in the recent past [2]. It has a wide range of clinical presentations, especially in the immunocompromised [3]. Clinical manifestations of melioidosis can be localized skin involvement or can be complicated with bloodstream invasion leading to sepsis and deep-seated abscesses [1]. Sweet’s syndrome also known as acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis was first described by Robert Sweet in 1965. It can be either primary or secondary to various infections, haematological neoplasms, autoimmune diseases and drugs [4]. Varied cutaneous manifestations have been described in association with melioidosis [5]. However, Sweet syndrome secondary to melioidosis has not been described so far. Herein we describe a case of melioidosis associated with Sweet syndrome in a Sri Lankan female.

A 53-year-old previously healthy Sri Lankan female presented with high-grade fever, painful oral ulcers, odynophagia and multiple bilateral enlarged cervical lymph nodes for 1 month. She also had a loss of appetite and loss of weight. There was no cough or haemoptysis, past or contact history of tuberculosis, arthralgia, urinary symptoms or altered bowel habits. She denied high-risk sexual behaviour. On examination, apart from bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy she also had a discharging sinus over the submental region and bilateral blepharitis. Dermatological examination revealed multiple erythematous tender papules and plaques with the mamillated appearance and centrally yellowish targetoid lesions symmetrically distributed over the face (Fig. 1), upper trunk and upper limbs. The oral ulcers were multiple tender erosions with an erythematous border and a fibrinous base involving lips, tongue (Fig. 2) and buccal mucosa. She never experienced red eyes. She also had multiple tender subcutaneous nodules over the upper limbs. There was no hepatosplenomegaly. Cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological examinations, including the optic fundus, were normal.

Histology from skin lesions of the face and left forearm showed a prominent neutrophilic infiltrate in the dermis extending into the subcutaneous fat, which is in favour of Sweet syndrome with panniculitis (Figs. 3 and 4). Contrast-Enhanced Computerised Tomography (CECT) of the brain, chest, and abdomen revealed matted cervical and mediastinal lymph nodes, non-enhancing hypoechoic lesions in the liver and spleen and a right-sided pleural effusion with underlying consolidation.

The patient was started on intravenous meropenem 2 g daily. She showed rapid clinical improvement with the disappearance of skin lesions with a significant reduction in inflammatory markers. This case clearly demonstrates that, when sweet syndrome occurs in the background of systemic infection, it subsides with treating the infection alone with intravenous antibiotics. Our patient showed clinical resolution without requirements of steroids or other immunosuppressant medications.

Melioidosis is caused by B.pseudomallei which is a free-living saprophyte in the environment and infects humans by direct penetration via skin abrasions or inhalation of dust [5]. It is a life-threatening infection that is estimated to cause 89,000 deaths per year worldwide [6]. The infection may remain localized or may progress rapidly through the bloodstream. The specific manifestations, severity, and chronicity of melioidosis may vary depending on bacterial strain and load, the route of bacterial entry (cutaneous penetration, ingestion or inhalation) and host immune function [6]. The various clinical manifestations of melioidosis are summarised in Table 1. Disseminated infections with multiorgan involvement complicating with sepsis, septic shock and death are more commonly seen in immunocompromised patients. The risk factors include but not limited to diabetes mellitus, organ failure (end-stage renal disease, cirrhosis, etc.), thalassemia, alcoholism, and immunosuppressive therapy [2]. However, like our patient melioidosis could also affect healthy adults and children without any obvious risk factors.

Cutaneous melioidosis can present as an ulcer, pustule, cellulitis or a crusted erythematous lesion [5]. However, Sweet syndrome secondary to melioidosis has not been reported in the literature. Sweet syndrome is a rare dermatological condition characterized by an abrupt onset of fever, an elevated neutrophil count, tender erythematous skin lesions, and a diffuse infiltrate of mature neutrophils in the reticular dermis with oedema in the papillary dermis [7]. Upper respiratory tract and gastrointestinal infections are known to be associated with Sweet syndrome.

The possibility of the Sweet syndrome was suspected by the characteristic appearance of the skin lesions. Furthermore, the histology from the skin lesions revealed prominent collections of neutrophils and neutrophilic debris and lymphocytes in the dermis and subcutaneous fat without evidence of vasculitis helped to confirm our diagnosis. According to the modified classification criteria proposed by von den Driesch, diagnosis of Sweet’s syndrome requires the presence of both major and two out of four minor criteria [8]. Our patient met both major criteria and three minor criteria. Interestingly, even though oral mucosal involvement in classic Sweet’s syndrome is rare, our patient had extensive pseudomembranous like oral mucosal involvement.

Sweet’s syndrome shows excellent response to treatment with systemic corticosteroids. Colchicine, dapsone and potassium iodide are the other first-line treatment options [9]. When Sweet syndrome is secondary to drugs the offending drugs should be discontinued. The underlying infection should be treated when Sweet syndrome is secondary to an infection. In the presence of an infection, treatment with steroids or other immune-suppressive drugs alone could be potentially harmful. She was treated with intravenous antibiotics and the lesions subsided with this alone without additional use of systemic steroids.

The case highlights the importance of considering melioidosis as a potential aetiology in patients with Sweet syndrome. Failure in clinical recognition and delayed laboratory diagnosis of melioidosis are not uncommon and could lead to treatment delays and poor outcomes. Mortality from melioidosis can exceed close to 40% in such cases [6]. Since both are rare conditions it is important for the clinician to be aware of this rare association. Unlike the idiopathic Sweet syndrome, here there is a remarkable improvement of the dermatological manifestations with the treatment of underlying melioidosis infection. It is important to look for the underlying cause for Sweet syndrome since the management can vary depending on the underlying aetiology.