ABSTRACT
Ulcers result when there is loss of all of the epidermis and at least a portion of the dermis. There are many causes of ulcers. Leg ulcers are frequently caused by chronic venous insufficiency, arterial disease, neuropathy, or a combination of factors (1). Ulcers are less commonly caused by infections. A diversity of infections may cause ulcers, and diagnosis is usually difficult without a culture or biopsy. The differential diagnosis of infectious ulcers includes bacterial, fungal, parasite, and viral etiologies (Table 1). Infectious Etiology of Leg Ulcers
Bacterial
Ecthyma
Ecthyma gangrenosum
Necrotizing fasciitis
Mycobacterial
Anthrax
Spirochetal
Fungal
Mycetoma
Sporotrichosis
Chromoblastomycosis
Blastomycosis
Histoplasmosis
Lobomycosis
Parasite
Leishmaniasis
Amebiasis
Viral
Herpes simplex
Cytomegalovirus
