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Clostridium septicum myonecrosis presenting as an acute painful foot
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, A.B. Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, KY 40536-0298, USA. william.wright@uky.edu
Abstract:
Spontaneous clostridial myonecrosis (gas gangrene) is an uncommonly encountered presentation of skin and soft-tissue infections with high morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis has been associated with colorectal carcinoma, hematologic malignancies, and diabetes. We report the case of an 81-year-old man who experienced a sudden onset of left ankle and foot pain in association with nonpalpable purpura and hemorrhagic bulla. The diagnosis was initially suspected on clinical presentation, gas in tissue on plain-film radiography, and Gram staining of aspirated bulla contents. Cultures grew Clostridium septicum, and a large cecum mass was found by computed tomography of the abdomen. A subsequent right hemicolectomy confirmed a well to moderately differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma. We emphasized that the early recognition of necrotizing skin and soft-tissue infections warrants further evaluation and appropriate management.
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