Publications

A 26-year-old woman was admitted with asymptomatic blisters on the lower abdomen, buttocks, inner aspect of thighs, and right shoulder area. It was her second postoperative day after an emergency caesarean section at 36 weeks and 6 days of gestation. Intraoperatively the surgical sites had been cleaned with 5% povidone iodine. On examination, multiple clear fluid-filled bullae and vesicles with surrounding areas of necrosis were noted on the lower abdomen, gluteal and perianal region, and medial aspect of both thighs and right scapular area [Figure 1a and b]. No oral, ocular, or genital mucosal involvement was noted. Differential diagnoses of irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) secondary to povidone-iodine, toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and purpura fulminans were considered.