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Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291
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Iatrogenic Infection of Clostridium welchii Following Intramuscular Injection of Sodium Diclofenac

Hemavathi Sathyanarayana1, Leela Rani, R Rajendran

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Bangalore, India.

Journal of Laboratory Physicians
|September 10, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Gas gangrene, a severe infection, can occur after intramuscular injections. Early diagnosis and surgical treatment are crucial for survival and limb preservation.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Surgical Pathology

Background:

  • Intramuscular (IM) injections are a frequent method for drug administration.
  • Injection site abscesses are iatrogenic infections, often caused by common bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus.
  • Rarely, severe necrotic infections such as gas gangrene can arise from IM injections.

Observation:

  • A case of gas gangrene developed in a 19-year-old male following an IM injection of sodium diclofenac.
  • The patient presented with a life-threatening soft tissue infection.
  • Gas gangrene is characterized by necrosis and has a high mortality rate, sometimes requiring amputation.

Findings:

  • The causative agent was likely Clostridium species, although not explicitly identified in the abstract.
  • Prompt clinical recognition and laboratory confirmation were essential for diagnosis.
  • Timely surgical intervention, including debridement, was critical in managing the infection.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the potential for severe complications from seemingly routine IM injections.
  • Highlights the importance of considering rare but life-threatening infections in the differential diagnosis of injection site complications.
  • Emphasizes the critical role of rapid diagnosis and aggressive surgical management in improving patient outcomes for gas gangrene.
Keywords:
Clostridium welchiigas gangreneintramuscular injection

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