Necrotizing fasciitis of the chest wall

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2010 Mar;10(3):483-4. doi: 10.1510/icvts.2009.222323. Epub 2009 Dec 17.

Abstract

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is an uncommon infection caused by microorganisms called 'flesh eating bacteria'. It remains a life-threatening condition associated with high mortality rate. Its location to the chest wall is exceptional. Herein, we report the case of a 39-year-old female, without comorbidity, presenting a NF of the chest wall complicating an empyema. We describe the surgical management with a three-step procedure: antibiotherapy-debridement, vacuum-assisted closure and delayed surgical reconstruction.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Debridement
  • Empyema, Pleural / diagnosis
  • Empyema, Pleural / microbiology*
  • Empyema, Pleural / therapy
  • Fasciitis, Necrotizing / diagnosis
  • Fasciitis, Necrotizing / microbiology*
  • Fasciitis, Necrotizing / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy
  • Skin Transplantation
  • Streptococcal Infections / diagnosis
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Streptococcal Infections / therapy
  • Streptococcus milleri Group / isolation & purification*
  • Surgical Flaps
  • Thoracic Wall / diagnostic imaging
  • Thoracic Wall / microbiology*
  • Thoracic Wall / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents