title: Life-threatening cervical necrotizing fasciitis.
abstract: Eight cases of cervical necrotizing fasciitis are presented. Three were odontogenic, two were pharyngeal in origin and three were primary or idiopathic. Soft tissue gas was recognized in four patients. The bacteriology showed streptococci on the top of the list (50%), while for the idiopathic cases, it was monomicrobial and caused by staphylococci. Third generation cephalosporin and metronidazole represent good initial empirical antibacterial coverage. Histopathologically, all cases showed extensive necrosis of the debrided fascia and vascular thrombosis of the dermal vessels. The mortality rate was 3/8 (37.5%). Early diagnosis of cervical necrotizing fasciitis and initiation of definitive therapy in an intensive care environment is essential to minimize mortality. It is also important to recognize that this devastating infection may occur spontaneously, and it should be suspected in patients with unexplained soft tissue pain and tenderness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Helmy
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Salah
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Nawara
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khatab
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Khalaf
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abd el-Maguid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002423:Cause of Death; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000494:pharmacology; D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007709:Klebsiella / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000401:mortality; D009333:Neck; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000401:mortality; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014139:Tracheostomy; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins