Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection Secondary to Spinal Hardware Malfunction: A Case Report on Surgical Debridement

Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are characterized by "flesh-eating bacteria" that are rapidly progressive and require immediate diagnosis and aggressive surgical debridement along with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Common pathogens, such as Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus coli, and Clostridium, are the usual culprits of this disease. While NSTIs have a relatively low incidence, they are associated with higher rates of morbidity and mortality. Due to the aggressive nature of the pathogen, NSTI can cause widespread necrosis of soft tissue and muscle, leading to extensive surgical intervention and patient disfigurement. The patient population that is most susceptible to NSTI includes the elderly, immunocompromised, and diabetics. In this case report, the patient is a 54-year-old woman with a past medical history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, and an extensive spinal surgery with malfunctioning spinal hardware who developed an NSTI while in the intensive care unit.