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A Bite to Remember: A Case Report of Necrotizing Soft-Tissue Infection of the Forearm Caused by Prevotella intermedia
Azaziah C Parker1, Simranjit Kaur1, Sara E Islam2
1The University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Medicine, 2500 North State St., Jackson, MS 39216, United States of America.
Introduction:
Human bite wounds account for a small proportion of bite injuries but carry a high risk of infection due to polymicrobial inoculation. While most infections present as cellulitis or abscess, necrotizing soft-tissue infections (NSTIs) are rare and potentially fatal.
Case Report:
We present the case of a 72-year-old female who developed an NSTI of the forearm after an occlusal human bite. Despite empiric antibiotics, the infection progressed rapidly, and intraoperative cultures grew Prevotella intermedia, an uncommon anaerobe in NSTIs. She required urgent fasciotomy and debridement, followed by targeted antibiotics and wound closure.
Conclusion:
This case underscores the importance of early surgical consultation for suspicious bite wounds and highlights P. intermedia as a potential pathogen in upper extremity NSTIs.
Insights
Necrotizing soft-tissue infections (NSTIs) from human bites are rare but dangerous. This case highlights Prevotella intermedia as a key pathogen in upper extremity NSTIs, emphasizing prompt surgical evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Surgical Pathology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Human bite wounds, though infrequent, pose significant infection risks due to polymicrobial inoculation.
- While cellulitis and abscesses are common, necrotizing soft-tissue infections (NSTIs) are rare but life-threatening complications.
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