Necrotizing fasciitis of the lower limb following rat bites.
Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare life-threatening condition characterized by rapidly spreading infection in the subcutaneous tissues. Most of the time, the infection is precipitated by an event that produces a break in the epidermis. The authors report the case of a 55-year-old farmer who developed a necrotizing fasciitis of the left lower limb following a rat bite. The patient had serial debridement of his wound and broad-spectrum antibiotics and subsequent partial thickness skin grafting. His total duration of admission was 93 days. Early diagnosis, an aggressive wound debridement, and broad-spectrum antibiotics form the backbone of the successful management of this case.
Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and Bayero University Kano, Kano, Nigeria. loftyjohnc@yahoo.com
Lofty-John Chukwuemeka
LJ
Anyanwu
Ashuku Ahmed
AA
Yakubu
D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications*; D003646:Debridement; D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D051381:Rats; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*