Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Cervical necrotizing fasciitis: 8-years’ experience of microbiology

  • Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cervical necrotizing fasciitis (CNF) is a life-threatening complication of pharyngeal or dental infections. The aim of this paper was to investigate whether dental or pharyngeal source result from different pathogen(s) in CNF and whether antibiotics, given before admission, influence the antimicrobial resistance of pathogens. In 152 CNF patients, Streptococcus milleri group and Prevotella species were the predominant isolates, frequently copathogens, mostly in dental CNF samples. Penicillin and clindamycin resistance were observed in 39% and 37% of cases, respectively, independently of any previous antibiotic therapy. Thus, a combined aerobe–anaerobe infection may have a synergistic effect, which allows the infection to spread in cervical tissues.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Swartz MN (2004) Clinical practice. Cellulitis. N Engl J Med 350(9):904–912

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Mathieu D, Neviere R, Teillon C, Chagnon JL, Lebleu N, Wattel F (1995) Cervical necrotizing fasciitis: clinical manifestations and management. Clin Infect Dis 21(1):51–56

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Mohammedi I, Ceruse P, Duperret S, Vedrinne J, Boulétreau P (1999) Cervical necrotizing fasciitis: 10 years’ experience at a single institution. Intensive Care Med 25(8):829–834

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Huang TT, Tseng FY, Yeh TH, Hsu CJ, Chen YS (2006) Factors affecting the bacteriology of deep neck infection: a retrospective study of 128 patients. Acta Otolaryngol 126(4):396–401

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Okayama H, Nagata E, Ito HO, Oho T, Inoue M (2005) Experimental abscess formation caused by human dental plaque. Microbiol Immunol 49(5):399–405

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Murray PR, Baron EJ, Pfaller MA, Tenover FC, Yolken RH (1999) Manual of clinical microbiology, 7th edn. ASM Press, Washington, DC, pp 1773

    Google Scholar 

  7. Fihman V, Raskine L, Barrou Z, Kiffel C, Riahi J, Berçot B, Sanson-Le Pors MJ (2006) Lactococcus garvieae endocarditis: identification by 16S rRNA and sodA sequence analysis. J Infect 52(1):e3–6

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Belko J, Goldmann DA, Macone A, Zaidi AK (2002) Clinically significant infections with organisms of the Streptococcus milleri group. Pediatr Infect Dis J 21(8):715–723

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Ruoff KL (1988) Streptococcus anginosus (“Streptococcus milleri”): the unrecognized pathogen. Clin Microbiol Rev 1(1):102–108

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Wanahita A, Goldsmith EA, Musher DM, Clarridge JE 3rd, Rubio J, Krishnan B, Trial J (2002) Interaction between human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and Streptococcus milleri group bacteria. J Infect Dis 185(1):85–90

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Macey MG, Whiley RA, Miller L, Nagamune H (2001) Effect on polymorphonuclear cell function of a human-specific cytotoxin, intermedilysin, expressed by Streptococcus intermedius. Infect Immun 69(10):6102–6109

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Petersen FC, Pecharki D, Scheie AA (2004) Biofilm mode of growth of Streptococcus intermedius favored by a competence-stimulating signaling peptide. J Bacteriol 186(18):6327–6331

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Brook I (2005) Bacteriology of acute and chronic ethmoid sinusitis. J Clin Microbiol 43(7):3479–3480

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Hintao J, Teanpaisan R, Chongsuvivatwong V, Ratarasan C, Dahlen G (2007) The microbiological profiles of saliva, supragingival and subgingival plaque and dental caries in adults with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus. Oral Microbiol Immunol 22(3):175–181

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Brook I, Frazier E (1995) Clinical and microbiological features of necrotizing fasciitis. J Clin Microbiol 33(9):2382–2387

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Brook I, Walker RI (1984) Pathogenicity of anaerobic gram-positive cocci. Infect Immun 45(2):320–324

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Nagashima H, Takao A, Maeda N (1999) Abscess forming ability of streptococcus milleri group: synergistic effect with Fusobacterium nucleatum. Microbiol Immunol 43(3):207–216

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Brook I (2007) Microbiology and management of soft tissue and muscle infections. Int J Surg (in press) DOI 10.1016/j.ijsu.2007.07.001

  19. Reynolds SC, Chow AW (2007) Life-threatening infections of the peripharyngeal and deep fascial spaces of the head and neck. Infect Dis Clin North Am 21(2):557–576 viii

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Benoit Schlemmer for his critical review and editorial guidance. We acknowledge the efforts of all of the members of the bacteriology department for their dedication and skill.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service de Bactériologie-Virologie, Université Paris 7—Denis Diderot, Groupe Hospitalier Lariboisière-Fernand Widal, GHU Nord, Assistance Publique—Hôpitaux de Paris, 2 rue Ambroise Paré, 75475 Paris Cedex 10, Paris, France

    V. Fihman, L. Raskine, J. Gravisse, B. Berçot & M. J. Sanson-Le Pors

  2. Département d’Anesthésie-Réanimation, Université Paris 7—Denis Diderot, Groupe Hospitalier Lariboisière-Fernand Widal, GHU Nord, Assistance Publique—Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France

    F. Petitpas, J. Mateo, I. Farhat, D. Payen & A. Mebazaa

  3. Service d’Oto-Rhino-Laryngologie, Université Paris 7—Denis Diderot, Groupe Hospitalier Lariboisière-Fernand Widal, GHU Nord, Assistance Publique—Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France

    R. Kania & P. Herman

  4. Département de Biostatistique et Informatique Médicale, INSERM U717, Université Paris 7, Hôpital Saint-Louis, GHU Nord, Assistance Publique—Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France

    M. Resche-Rigon

Authors
  1. V. Fihman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. Raskine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. F. Petitpas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. Mateo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. Kania
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. J. Gravisse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. M. Resche-Rigon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. I. Farhat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. B. Berçot
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. D. Payen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. M. J. Sanson-Le Pors
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. P. Herman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. A. Mebazaa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to V. Fihman.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fihman, V., Raskine, L., Petitpas, F. et al. Cervical necrotizing fasciitis: 8-years’ experience of microbiology. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 27, 691–695 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-008-0491-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-008-0491-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation