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Subacute Necrotizing Fasciitis Caused by Gas-Producing Staphylococcus aureus

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Abstract

Presented here is a case of necrotizing fasciitis that developed bilaterally on the thighs of a 54-year-old diabetic woman following subcutaneous insulin injection. Severe localized pain was the presenting symptom; later, soft-tissue gas appeared. Incisional biopsy, performed on day 10 following admission, confirmed the diagnosis. Staphylococcus aureus was the only pathogen isolated. The disease had a slowly progressive course despite appropriate medical treatment, and recovery of the patient was achieved only after fasciotomy, drainage, and debridement of necrotic tissue was undertaken 4 weeks following admission. Staphylococcus aureus may cause subacute necrotizing fasciitis, and infection with this organism should be considered in cases of soft-tissue infection with gas formation in diabetics. The development of soft-tissue infection at the site of insulin injection should alert physicians to the possibility of infection with Staphylococcus aureus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine C, Ha-Emeq Medical Center, Afula, 18101, Israel

    W. R. Saliba, L. H. Goldstein & M. S. Elias

  2. Infectious Disease Unit, Ha-Emeq Medical Center, Afula, 18101, Israel

    R. Raz

  3. Rheumatology Unit, Ha-Emeq Medical Center, Afula, 18101, Israel

    R. Mader

  4. Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Ha-Emeq Medical Center, Afula, 18101, Israel

    R. Colodner

  5. Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Afula, Israel

    W. R. Saliba, L. H. Goldstein, R. Raz, R. Mader, R. Colodner & M. S. Elias

Authors
  1. W. R. Saliba
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  2. L. H. Goldstein
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  3. R. Raz
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  4. R. Mader
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  5. R. Colodner
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  6. M. S. Elias
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Correspondence to W. R. Saliba.

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Saliba, W.R., Goldstein, L.H., Raz, R. et al. Subacute Necrotizing Fasciitis Caused by Gas-Producing Staphylococcus aureus . Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 22, 612–614 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-003-1023-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-003-1023-2

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