Journal of Experimental and Clinical Medicine https://dergipark.org.tr/omujecm Case Report J. Exp. Clin. Med., 2019; 36(1): 31-33 doi: 10.5835/jecm.omu.36.01.006 Massive carbuncle in a patient with diabetes mellitus Gokhan Sahin a* , Fatma Aydın a , Yusuf Kelleci a , Mehmet Tayyar Canturk b a Deparment of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey b Deparment of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Okan University, İstanbul, Turkey ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article History Received 09 / 01 / 2018 Accepted 17 / 04 / 2018 Online Published Date 04 / 12 / 2019 Carbuncle is a skin infection with deep subcutaneous tissue involvement and can lead to sepsis and death if not properly treated. Wound care, control of co- morbid diseases that affecting the immunity are as effective as antibiotic treat- ment in the treatment of the carbuncle. Here, a case of carbuncle of the gluteal area is reported in a 75-year-old woman with concomitant diabetes and chronic renal failure. © 2019 OMU * Correspondence to: Gökhan Şahin Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey e-mail: sgokhan55@hotmail.com Keywords: Chronic renal failure Diabetes mellitus Massive carbuncle Treatment 1. Introduction A carbuncle is the collection of furuncles that affects deeper subcutaneous tissue with purulent drainage from multiple follicules (Sommer et al., 2018; Stevens et al., 2014). It manifests as painful, tender, fuctuant, erythematous nodules surrounded by a rim of erythematous swelling. A carbuncle may result with bacteremia that can cause life threatening infections like endocarditis and osteomyelitis. Diabetes Mellitus (DM), immunologic abnormalities, trauma and intravenous drug use are important risk factors but it can also develop in healthy individuals (Gira et al., 2004; Kars et al., 2005). Most commonly involved areas are nape of neck, face, axillae and buttocks. Although s. aureus alone comprises up to 75% of the cases, multiple organisms can be isolated in perioral and anogenital infections (Summanen et al., 1995). Diagnosis is based primarily on clinical appearance, bacterial cultures and gram stains of the lesion. Although simple furuncles may heal only with warm compresses, a carbuncle often requires systemic antibiotic therapy, incision and drainage. 2. Case A 75-year-old female was admitted with the complaint of red, tender mass with fuid leakage on her left perianal gluteal region accompanied by fever. Dermatological examination showed approximately 15cmx15cm sized