Successful treatment of necrotizing fasciitis in an upper extremity caused by Clostridium perfringens after bone marrow transplantation

Intern Med. 2011;50(19):2213-7. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.50.5829. Epub 2011 Oct 1.

Abstract

We report a 47-year-old man with acute leukemia who survived a severe case of necrotizing fasciitis caused by Clostridium perfringens involving his right upper extremity. On day 5 after stem cell transplantation, progressive local tissue necrosis led to septicemia and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of appropriate therapy, including surgical debridement and broad-spectrum antibiotics, were crucial. A recombinant thrombomodulin might have not only resolved the coagulation problem but also prevented multiple organ failure associated with the systemic inflammatory response.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arm
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Debridement
  • Fasciitis, Necrotizing / etiology*
  • Fasciitis, Necrotizing / therapy*
  • Gas Gangrene / etiology*
  • Gas Gangrene / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Thrombomodulin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • THBD protein, human
  • Thrombomodulin