Nonclostridial gas gangrene: late infection after hip pinning.
An 86-year-old diabetic man had a late, gas-forming infection about Knowles pins. Although blood cultures were negative, a urinary tract infection followed by infection with the same organism in bone, muscle, and lung strongly supports hematogenous spread of E coli from the genitourinary system in this patient. The genitourinary system is well recognized as a source of bacteremia, and the skeletal system is the most often affected distant tissue when this occurs. A hematogenous cause of nonclostridial gas gangrene about an implant has not previously been reported.
D000368:Aged; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000382:microbiology; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000150:complications*; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005734:Gangrene / Q000209:etiology*; D006615:Hip / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000382:microbiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000382:microbiology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology