title: Case report: perianal necrotizing fasciitis in a near-term neonate.
abstract: Necrotizing fasciitis in the neonatal period is a rare, life-threatening condition. Previous cases of neonatal necrotizing fasciitis in the perianal region were speculated to have been initiated by rectal mucosal trauma secondary to rectal temperature measurements. We observed a case of fatal perianal necrotizing fasciitis in a neonate where the process began as a red ring surrounding the anus and guiac-positive stools, detected after a rectal temperature measurement. We speculate that the perianal necrotizing fasciitis that subsequently developed might have been initiated by a minor rectal mucosal injury, and we investigated the instrument used for the rectal temperature measurement to assess any potential areas on the probe sheath cover that might cause a minor injury. Each probe sheath cover examined had three areas that, in our opinion, could possibly generate a minor mucosal injury.
authors.affiliation: Intermountain Healthcare, Neonatology, Ogden and Salt Lake City, UT 84403, USA. rdchris4@ihc.com
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Pysher
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Christensen
mesh_terms: D001004:Anus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012772:Shock, Septic; D013821:Thermometers / Q000009:adverse effects*