Cutaneous diphtheria in a patient just returned from Tahiti

Abstract

During a mission in French Polynesia, a man in his 50s presented with multiple lesions on his legs that resembled little bubbles. Two weeks later, after his return to Toulon, France, the patient had numerous and painful lesions on his legs and right hand, with fibrinous ulcerations covered by an adherent membrane. The patient did not report any specific risk activities during the mission (e.g. contact with animals, poor hygiene, intravenous drug use). Clinicians suspected a Staphylococcus aureus infection with toxin production.