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Pseudomonas necrotizing fasciitis in an otherwise healthy infant

Shakeel Ahmed1, Syed Rehan Ali, Zahra Aziz Samani

  • 1Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University Hospital, Stadium Road, P.O. Box 3500, Krachi 74800, Pakistan.

Case Reports in Infectious Diseases
|December 1, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Necrotizing fasciitis, a severe soft tissue infection, is rarely caused by a single bacterium. This case report details a rare instance of monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis in an infant due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Necrotizing fasciitis is a rapidly progressive soft tissue infection with high mortality.
  • Monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis is exceptionally rare, with few documented cases.
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen not commonly associated with this condition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a rare case of monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an infant.
  • To highlight the diagnostic and treatment challenges of this uncommon infection in a pediatric patient.

Main Methods:

  • Case report of a six-month-old female infant.
  • Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of necrotizing fasciitis.
  • Microbiological analysis of blood and tissue samples for Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Main Results:

  • The infant presented with necrotizing fasciitis.
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from both blood and tissue samples.
  • The patient improved following intensive treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa can occur in previously healthy infants.
  • Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are crucial for favorable outcomes.
  • This case expands the understanding of rare etiologies of necrotizing fasciitis in pediatrics.

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