Gas gangrene is usually caused by clostridial species; non-clostridial gas gangrene is infrequently reported. S. constellatus belongs to the Streptococcus milleri group, which are considered part of the normal flora and frequently associated with abscess formation. We report a rare case of spontaneous gas gangrene caused by S. constellatus. An 86-year-old man was admitted with gas gangrene of the left hip. He was treated with surgical debridement of the necrotic tissue, and antibiotic therapy, and had a satisfactory clinical course.
Abscess ; Aged, 80 and over ; Debridement ; Gangrene ; Gas Gangrene ; Hip ; Humans ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus constellatus ; Streptococcus milleri Group

Gas gangrene, a subset of necrotizing myositis, is a bacterial infection that produces gas in tissues in gangrene. It is usually caused by Clostridium species, most commonly Clostridium perfringens. Streptococcus anginosus is a rare cause of gas gangrene, with very few cases reported. We report a rare case of traumatic gas gangrene caused by S. anginosus in a 57-year-old female with diabetes after being stabbed with scissors.
Bacterial Infections ; Clostridium ; Clostridium perfringens ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Gangrene ; Gas Gangrene* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myositis ; Streptococcus anginosus* ; Streptococcus*

Fulminant gas gangrene is a rare condition, usually associated with contaminated traumatic injuries. It carries a high rate of mortality and morbidity. Also, a number of studies have implicated non-traumatic gas gangrene, associated mostly with underlying diseases that cause immunodeficiency. We report a non-traumatic fatal case of Klebsiella pneumoniae gas gangrene with small air bubbles in the left external and common iliac vein, and inferior vena cava in a previously healthy male. We would like to recommend you do not use nitrous oxide in case of gas gangrene, because it can aggravate pulmonary air embolism.
Embolism, Air ; Gas Gangrene ; Humans ; Iliac Vein ; Klebsiella ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Male ; Nitrous Oxide ; Vena Cava, Inferior

Adult ; Cellulitis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Dyspnea ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Gas Gangrene ; complications ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male

Gas producing infection accompanied by evidence of subcutaneous gas usually are diagnosed as clostridial gas gangrene. The occurrence of nonclostridial gas producing infection is thought to be relatively rare. Two cases of nonclostridial gas producing infection simulating clostridial gas gangrene in diabetes occurred. Gram stains of pus at the time of admission can isolate the E-coli and streptococcus, and can distinguish these two entities. Chief conplaints were swelling, pain and tenderness of right lower extremity by infection. Multiple incisions to free the tissues of gas and pus and the administration of antibiotics are the treatment of choice.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Coloring Agents ; Gas Gangrene ; Lower Extremity ; Streptococcus ; Suppuration

It is important to recongnize that the finding of Clostridia in a wound does not establish the diagnosis of gas gangrene. Clostridia may be present in traumatic wound under three circumstances: (1) simple contamination, (2) anaerobic cellulitis, and (3) gas gangrene. Confusion between clostridial cellulitis and gas gangrene may be avoided by remembering that clostrdial cellulitis is not associated with muscle invasion, and seldom produce swelling, pain, toxemia, or shock. Authors had been treated a case of clostridial infection with a vascularized groin flap followed by good result.
Cellulitis ; Clostridium perfringens ; Clostridium ; Diagnosis ; Gas Gangrene ; Groin ; Shock ; Toxemia ; Wounds and Injuries

A deep infection after total hip arthroplasty is a very severe complication that occurs in about 1~2% of the patients. The major cause of this infection is Staphylococcus aureus in the early stage and Staphylococcus epidermidis in the late stage A nontraumatic gas-forming infection is rare and difficult to diagnose because of its slower clinical course than that of gas gangrene. Therefore, it has a high mortality rate due to delayed treatment. There have been no reports on gas-forming infection by Escherichia coli after total hip arthroplasty. We report here on a patient who was treated by open arthrotomy and the patient expired due to a Escherichia coli, gas-forming infection after undergoing total hip arthroplasty.
Arthroplasty ; Bacteria ; Escherichia coli ; Gas Gangrene ; Hip ; Humans ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Staphylococcus epidermidis

We report a case of extensive subcutaneous emphysema of the lower extremity mimicking gas gangrene following perforation of the rectum in a 38-yr-old man. Subcutaneous emphysema of the leg may rarely occur secondary to perforation of the gastrointestinal tract and has often created serious diagnostic problems and high mortality rates. Therefore, prompt diagnosis and aggressive treatment is imperative.
Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gas Gangrene/*radiography ; Humans ; Intestinal Perforation/*radiography ; Male ; Rectal Diseases/*radiography ; Subcutaneous Emphysema/*radiography

Subcutaneous emphysema of lower extremity is a rare disease entity. Crepitation and swelling on physical examination and gas on radiographs raise the concern of infection due to the presence of gas gangrene forming organisms. Therefore, delay of diagnosis and appropriate management can be a major predisposing factor for sepsis and further associated high mortality. We experienced a rare case of subcutaneous emphysema of the right lower extremity after knee arthroscopy; life-threatening infection was ruled out by physical examination and laboratory testing. The patient recovered uneventfully with conservative management. Therefore, we report on this case with a review of current literature.
Arthroscopy* ; Causality ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gas Gangrene ; Humans ; Knee* ; Lower Extremity* ; Mortality ; Physical Examination ; Rare Diseases ; Sepsis ; Subcutaneous Emphysema*

As a decompression means, the fasciotomy has been of good evaluation in many diseases such as impending V.I.C., ischemic myositis due to CO poisoning, snake bite, burn, anterior tibial compartment syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome and gas gangrene, etc. From 1966 to 1973, 7 cases of snake bites and 5 cases of the ischemic myositis due to CO poisoning were treated at the Orthopedic Department of Seoul National University Hospital and the results were as follows; 1. All cases of the snake bites had got good results without any complication after the fasciotomy, while the fasciotomy performed in the ischemic myositis due to CO poisoning were not effective. 2. The time elapsed from the snake bite to the fasciotomy had a close relation to the prognosis. 3. In the 4 of 5 cases of the ischemic myositis due to CO poisoning, infections were superimposed on the fasciotomy sites. 4. The inappropriately continuous use of the tourniquet for hours after the snake bites caused worse prognosis.
Burns ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Compartment Syndromes ; Decompression ; Extremities ; Gas Gangrene ; Myositis ; Orthopedics ; Poisoning ; Prognosis ; Seoul ; Snake Bites ; Tourniquets