Occult gastrointestinal malignancies producing metastatic Clostridium septicum infections in diabetic patients.
BACKGROUND
Clostridial soft-tissue infections usually occur from traumatic injury but may be related to unrecognized gastrointestinal malignancy. Overwhelming sepsis with Clostridium septicum developed in five diabetic patients within 24 hours of onset of disease, and their course is reviewed.


METHODS
The personal experience of the author in four cases is reviewed.


RESULTS
Patients were seen within 12 to 24 hours of the onset of the disease with painful, rapidly spreading, gas-producing infection of the lower extremity (three patients), upper extremity (one patient), or pelvis (one patient), with severe sepsis in four of five patients. Three of the five patients had pertinent past histories that should have led to the prevention of the disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Urgent laparotomy should be performed in otherwise healthy diabetic patients who had rapidly progressive, necrotizing, gas-producing infections with no obvious source. Metastatic spread can recur if the focus is not eradicated. All diabetic patients with guaiac-positive stools should have a gastrointestinal evaluation, including colonoscopy if barium enema is normal.
Kudsk
K A
KA
Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee, Memphis.
D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents