Deep Soft-Tissue Infections: Necrotizing Fasciitis and Gas Gangrene

2013 ◽  
pp. 157-160
Author(s):  
Stephen Ash
POCUS Journal ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-14
Author(s):  
Hadiel Kaiyasah, MD, MRCS (Glasgow), ABHS-GS ◽  
Maryam Al Ali, MBBS

Soft tissue ultrasound (ST-USS) has been shown to be of utmost importance in assessing patients with soft tissue infections in the emergency department or critical care unit. It aids in guiding the management of soft tissue infection based on the sonographic findings.


Author(s):  
Lauren E. Miller ◽  
David A. Shaye

AbstractNecrotizing fasciitis (NF) is part of the class of necrotizing soft tissue infections characterized by rapid fascial spread and necrosis of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and superficial fascia. If left untreated, NF can rapidly deteriorate into multiorgan shock and systemic failure. NF most commonly infects the trunk and lower extremities, although it can sometimes present in the head and neck region. This review provides an overview of NF as it relates specifically to the head and neck region, including its associated clinical features and options for treatment. Noma, a related but relatively unknown disease, is then described along with its relationship with severe poverty.


1995 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 1002-1004 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Kragsbjerg ◽  
T. Norén ◽  
B. Söderquist

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Pallin

The skin is the largest organ of the human body, and has diverse functions including protection from infection, temperature regulation, sensation, and immunologic and hormonal functions. Skin infections occur when the skin’s protective mechanisms fail. Some infections may be life-threatening (eg, necrotizing fasciitis) or may require the patient to be placed on contact precautions; thus, the initial goals of assessment of patients with skin and soft tissue infections are to assess the patient’s stability and to determine whether precautions are necessary to protect others. This review covers the pathophysiology, stabilization and assessment, diagnosis and treatment, and disposition and outcomes for a variety of skin and soft tissue infections. Figures show an algorithm for treatment of bacterial infections of the skin, and photographs of  various infections including necrotizing fasciitis, cellulitis, an abscess caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a furuncle, a carbuncle, nonbullous and bullous impetigo, echythma, folliculitis, anthrax lesion, tinea corporis, condyloma acuminatum, and plantar warts. Tables list cellulitis treatment with particular exposures, the dermatophytoses, and yeast infections of skin and mucous membranes. This review contains 16 highly rendered figures, 3 tables, and 32 references.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Jaron Pettis ◽  
Neelam Mulji ◽  
Fernando A. Navarro

Background: Necrotizing fasciitis is a potentially lethal soft tissue infection characterized by rampant necrosis and destruction of subcutaneous tissues. Current estimates of necrotizing soft tissue infections in the United States are 4.3 infections per 100,000 of the population. Although the incidence of necrotizing soft tissue infections has decreased in the last decade, the toxic and lethal nature of the disease process lends utmost importance to accurate diagnosis and immediate management. The purpose of this review article is to report three cases of necrotizing fasciitis and provide literature review in regards to hallmark characteristics, predisposing risk factors and treatment optimization.Case: The first case depicts a newly diagnosed 43-year-old male HIV patient with necrotizing fasciitis infection characterized by Klebsiella, Serratia and anaerobic bacteria cultures. The second case describes the course of a 71-year-old male diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis in the setting of a complicated anal fistula characterized by B. fragilis, S. anginosus and Prevotella species. The third and final case describes the course of a 44-year-old female diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis in the setting of Ludwig’s Angina characterized by Klebsiella and Dubliensis species. Treatment was initiated with extensive wound debridement, multiple washouts and broad antibiotic regimens in all three cases. Additional hyperbaric oxygen therapy was administered in the third case.Conclusions: These case reports illustrate the range of severity and settings in which necrotizing fasciitis can occur. Significant morbidity and mortality rates are associated with a delay in treatment initiation. Given this, it is of utmost importance to develop and maintain a high clinical acumen for necrotizing soft tissue infections.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao H. Nguyen ◽  
Nada Fadul ◽  
Muhammad S. Ashraf ◽  
Dawd S. Siraj

Mycobacterium marinum(M. marinum) is a ubiquitous waterborne organism that grows optimally at temperatures around 30°C. It is a nontuberculousMycobacteriumfound in nonchlorinated water with worldwide prevalence. It is the most common atypicalMycobacteriumthat causes opportunistic infection in humans.M. marinumcan cause superficial infections and localized invasive infections in humans, with the hands being the sites most frequently affected. It can cause skin lesions, which are either single, papulonodular lesions, confined to an extremity, or may resemble cutaneous sporotrichosis. This infection can also cause deeper infections including tenosynovitis, bursitis, arthritis, and osteomyelitis. Disseminated infections and visceral involvements have been reported in immunocompromised patients. We here report a case of severe deep soft tissue infection with necrotizing fasciitis and osteomyelitis of the left upper extremity (LUE) caused byM. marinumin an immunocompromised patient.


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