title: Monomicrobial Necrotizing Fasciitis Caused by Aeromonas hydrophila and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare specific characteristics and clinical outcomes of monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis caused by Aeromonashydrophila and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases of monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis caused by A. hydrophila (n = 11) and K. pneumoniae (n = 7) over an 8-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Differences in mortality, patient characteristics, clinical presentations, and laboratory data were compared between the A. hydrophila and the K. pneumoniae groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clinical signs and symptoms at the time of presentation did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) between the two groups. The A. hydrophila group had a significantly shorter interval between contact and admission (1.55 ± 0.52 vs. 5.14 ± 2.12 days, p < 0.001) and significant lower total white blood cell counts (10,245 ± 5,828 vs. 19,014 ± 11,370 cells/mm(3), p < 0.045) than the K. pneumoniae group in the emergency room. Hepatic dysfunction was associated with mortality in patients with A. hydrophila infection, while diabetes mellitus was associated with mortality in patients with K. pneumoniae infection. Overall, 5 (45.5%) patients in the A. hydrophila group and 3 (42.8%) in the K. pneumoniae group died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The initial clinical course of A. hydrophila monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis was characterized by more rapidly progressive disease than that of the K. pneumoniae infection. Patients with hepatic dysfunction and necrotizing fasciitis should be suspected of having A. hydrophila infection, and diabetic patients with necrotizing fasciitis should be suspected of having K. pneumoniae infection initially.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Puzi City, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yao-Hung
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Shih-Hsun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Tien-Yu
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Po-Han
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kuo-Chin
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Mel S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D016980:Aeromonas hydrophila; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000401:mortality; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors