title: Adverse alteration of wound flora with topical negative-pressure therapy: a case report.
abstract: Topical negative pressure (TNP) has achieved widespread use in the treatment of problematic wounds. We report the case of a patient treated with TNP for groin-wound dehiscence following inguinal block dissection. During treatment, clinical signs of sepsis developed, in association with a progressively worsening anaerobic wound infection. This infection settled with antibiotic therapy and cessation of TNP treatment. We postulate that the air-free environment created by TNP potentiated the growth of the anaerobic bacteria, resulting in significant sepsis, and therefore recommend close surveillance of bacterial flora while using this therapy, particularly in susceptible patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Chester
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Waters
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000254:growth & development; D006119:Groin; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D009779:Occlusive Dressings / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011312:Pressure; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy