To the Editor.—
The following case is reported as an example of an unusual anaerobic infection with cutaneous findings.
Report of Case.—
A 3.4-kg baby girl was delivered without incident of a 22-year-old primipara. At age 4 days, the infant was hospitalized 14 hours after the development of erythema and induration of the periumbilical skin. A brown watery discharge developed that was found to contain Gram-positive rods and cocci. The rod, identified as a clostridial species, grew as an anaerobe. Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus faecalis were also cultured, the former growing as a facultative anaerobe. Antibiotics failed to halt the process and after 48 hours of illness the skin in the periumbilical region had become dusky purple-gray and necrotic in appearance to a point 1.5 cm from the umbilicus. Vesicles were apparent centrally. Peripheral to the devitalized area was a 3- to 5-cm thick zone of sharply demarcated viable but