Necrotizing fasciitis and myonecrosis "synergistic necrotizing cellulitis" caused by Bacillus cereus.

Necrotizing fasciitis and myonecrosis

"synergistic necrotizing cellulitis"

caused by Bacillus cereus.

J Dermatol. 2009 Jul

Sada A, Misago N, Okawa T, Narisawa Y, Ide S, Nagata M, Mitsumizo S.

Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga City, Saga 849-8501, Japan. Email: sadaasu@cc.saga-u.ac.jp

Our patient was a 37-year-old man with diabetes mellitus and hepatopathy as underlying diseases. Swelling, erythema and pain appeared in the left upper limb on the day before the initial examination. On examination, diffuse purpura was noted on the left upper limb, and, as it rapidly extended to the left upper trunk, emergency surgery was performed. Intraoperatively, gas-producing necrosis was observed not only in subcutaneous tissues but also from the fascia to muscle tissues, and the condition resembled clostridial gas gangrene. However, as the culturing of samples from the lesion yielded Bacillus cereus, a diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis and myonecrosis (synergistic necrotizing cellulitis) due to B. cereus was made. While the patient developed a serious condition due to sepsis and disseminated intravascular coagulation, he could be saved by early debridement and intensive treatment with an appropriate selection of antibiotics.

Wiley InterScience

Emergency department management of home intravenous antibiotic therapy for cellulitis

Emergency department management of home intravenous antibiotic therapy for cellulitis

Emergency Medicine Journal 2005;22:715-717; doi:10.1136/emj.2004.018143
© 2005 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and the College of Emergency Medicine.

M Donald1, N Marlow2, E Swinburn1, M Wu3
1 Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia2 Northern Sydney Health, Sydney, Australia3 Mona Vale Hospital, Australia

Correspondence to:Correspondence to: Dr M J Donald Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leeward’s, Sydney, NSW, Australia; mikedonald25@hotmail.com

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of using intravenous cephazolin as a first line antibiotic for the treatment of cellulitis in a supervised outpatient programme.

Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis and included all patients who attended the emergency department (ED) of a university affiliated hospital in Sydney over the period of 1 year and who satisfied the following inclusion criteria: (a) age >16 years, (b) presented with acute cellulitis, and (c) were suitable for home intravenous antibiotic therapy according to APAC guidelines.

Results: In total, 124 patients were included, of whom 53 (42.7%) presented directly to the ED and 71 (57.3%) were referred by their general practitioner. Of these 124 patients, 75 (60.5%) were men and 49 (39.5%) were women. Age range was 16–97 years. There were 82 (66.2%) presentations of cellulitis of the lower limb, 30 (24.2%) of the upper limb, 9 (7.2%) of the face and 3 (2.4%) of the torso. Cephazolin 2 g twice daily was given to 123 (99.2%) of the patients, and one patient (0.8%) received ceftriaxone 2 g once daily. In total, 105 patients (84.7%) were treated successfully and 19 (15.3%) were re-admitted. Four of the unsuccessful treatment group required incision and drainage of abscesses. The mean duration of intravenous therapy was 6.24 days. One patient developed diarrhoea. There were no other complications attributable to therapy.

Conclusion: Low re-admission rates verify the efficacy of cephazolin 2 g twice daily in treating cellulitis in the home environment. Benefits are multiple and include economic savings and reduced risk of nosocomial infection.

Abbreviations: APAC, Acute/Post Acute Care; ED, emergency department; HIH, hospital in the home

Keywords: Cellulitis; cephazolin; department; emergency

Ermergency Medicine Journal

Continuous-infusion oxacillin for the treatment of burn wound cellulitis.

Continuous-infusion oxacillin for the treatment of burn wound cellulitis.
Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2009 Feb

Schuster KM, Wilson D, Schulman CI, Pizano LR, Ward CG, Namias N.
Section of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care and Surgical Emergencies, Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8062, USA. kevin.schuster@yale.edu

BACKGROUND: Burn cellulitis is an infection of the unburned skin at the margin of a burn wound or graft donor site, typically caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus. beta-Lactam antibiotics exhibit time-dependent killing and, because of their narrow spectrum, minimize bacterial resistance. We therefore use continuous-infusion oxacillin in the treatment of burn cellulitis.

METHODS: Patients at a regional burn center who were treated for burn cellulitis from January 2003 to December 2005 were included. Charts were reviewed for all pertinent data regarding the antibiotic treatment methods and outcomes. Successful treatment was defined as resolution of physical findings, fever, and leukocytosis and intravenous antibiotic cessation.

RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were treated for burn cellulitis, 26 (70%) of whom were treated initially with continuous-infusion oxacillin. Other initial antibiotics were chosen because of concomitant infections, penicillin allergy, or development of cellulitis during treatment with a beta-lactam antibiotic. Oxacillin treatment was successful in 19 patients (73%). Success required an average of 5.16 days, with 1.53 days required for fever resolution and 0.89 days for resolution of leukocytosis. Seven patients who did not respond rapidly were switched to intravenous vancomycin an average of 2.4 days after starting oxacillin, leading to a 100% success rate. There were no deaths, and only one suspected case of allergic reaction to oxacillin. In eleven patients treated with other antibiotics, the success rate was 75%. Success with these drugs required a longer treatment course of 6.45 days. Leukocytosis resolved significantly more slowly at 4.45 days (p = 0.02), and fever resolution was also slower at 3.18 days.

CONCLUSIONS: Continuous-infusion oxacillin was successful in the treatment of 73% of patients, a success rate that might have been higher with clinical patience, and leukocytosis resolved faster than with other antibiotics. Failure of continuous-infusion oxacillin can be managed without clinical consequence by conversion to intravenous vancomycin.

MaryAnn Liebert Publications

Fungal foot infection, cellulitis and diabetes: a review.

Fungal foot infection, cellulitis and diabetes: a review.
Diabet Med. 2009 May

Bristow IR, Spruce MC.
School of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK. ib@soton.ac.uk

AIMS: To review the current evidence for the presence of fungal foot infection (tinea pedis and toenail onychomycosis) as a risk factor for the development of cellulitis within the lower limb, particularly for those individuals with diabetes.

METHODS: A structured review of medline, embase and cinahl databases was undertaken to identify publications investigating fungal foot infection as a risk factor for the development of cellulitis.

RESULTS: Sixteen studies were identified. Eight studies adopted a case-control methodology, with the remainder being cross-sectional surveys. The majority of studies established the presence of tinea infection by clinical rather than established microbiological methods. Although the majority of papers suggested a link, only two case-control studies employed microbiological diagnosis to demonstrate that fungal foot infection was a risk for the development of lower limb cellulitis, particularly when infection was located between the toes. There were insufficient data to suggest that fungal foot infection posed an increased risk to patients with diabetes.

CONCLUSION: There is some evidence to suggest that fungal infection of the foot is a factor in the development of lower limb cellulitis, but further robust research is needed to confirm these findings and quantify the risk that fungi pose, particularly to the diabetic foot. Meanwhile, improved surveillance and treatment of tinea infections on the foot by healthcare professionals should be encouraged to reduce potential complications.

Wiley InterScience

Florid osseous dysplasia: report of a case presenting acute cellulitis.

Florid osseous dysplasia: report of a case presenting acute cellulitis.

Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2009 Sept

Pitak-Arnnop P, Dhanuthai K, Chaine A, Bertrand JC, Bertolus C.
Department of Oral, Craniomaxillofacial and Facial Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. poramate.pitakarnnop@gmail.com

In this review, we examined a 45-year-old Asian man who had been diagnosed with florid osseous dysplasia (FOD) of the mandible and acute perimandibular cellulitis. This presentation occurred after a history of off-and-on swellings of the jaw and multiple treatments received at another hospital. An aggressive resection of the jaw was planned; however, the patient denied the treatment and came to our clinic to seek a second opinion. The patient was successfully treated by conservative surgery and antibiotic treatment with preservation of the jaw integrity and the mandibular neurovascular canal. Intraoperatively, a piece of a calcified mass was removed and submitted for histopathological examination. The specimen showed woven bone and densely sclerotic mass of calcified materials exhibiting reversal lines and inflammatory cell infiltration of the connective tissue. The definitive diagnosis was FOD with a secondary infection. Treatments for FOD were discussed.

Med Oral