title: A description and illustration of a necrotizing fasciitis by John Bell in 1801, hypothetically caused by Vibrio vulnificus.
abstract: We present an overlooked and noteworthy historical case and illustration of a necrotizing fasciitis, observed and written by John Bell (1763-1820), first published in 1801. Considering the setting and the clinical presentation, we hypothesize that the pathogen responsible was the species Vibrio vulnificus. The typical clinical course of a rapidly progressive illness preceded by saltwater exposure shortly followed by the development of a hemorrhagic skin lesion, with a fatal outcome, should strongly suggest a V. vulnificus infection. To our knowledge, there are few historical case reports with illustrations included describing cases of necrotizing fasciitis, particularly with V. vulnificus as the suggested pathogen.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. r.hassing@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Robert-Jan
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hassing
authors.forename: Yorick J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: Erwin J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kompanje
mesh_terms: D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000209:etiology / Q000266:history*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012606:Scotland; D014735:Vibrio Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000266:history*; D041261:Vibrio vulnificus / Q000472:pathogenicity