Pseudomonas aeruginosa vasculitis
This is a high power view of skin from an HIV-positive patient. Large numbers of bacilli are emerging through the walls of the vessel and infiltrating the dermis. The Gram-negative bacillus Pseudomonas aeruginosa was cultured from the blood.
In immunocompromised patients, this bacteraemia may cause local vascular thromboses by damaging the endothelium. Although it is termed 'vasculitis', there is no inflammatory cell infiltrate involved. H&E stain.
See also images W0043255-7 from the same patient.
