Background: Intravenous drug users (IDUs) have a high risk of developing skin and soft tissue infections such as erysipelas, abscesses, and less frequently necrotizing fasciitis (NF) or gas gangrene. Rarely, the cause of the infection is microorganisms residing in the oral cavity and can lead to life-threatening infections.

Methods: We describe the case of a 43-year-old man intravenous drug user (IDU) who was admitted for intense leg pain following an injection of cocaine at that site.

Results: A clinical and radiological diagnosis of NF was made, so the patient was started on empirical antibiotic therapy and underwent surgical fasciotomy (after 8 hours from admission). was isolated from multiple intraoperative specimens and was resistant to initial antimicrobial therapy. The man, suffering from periodontal disease, reported sucking the syringe several times to unblock it. Both fasciotomy surgery and adjustment of antimicrobial therapy enabled therapeutic success.

Conclusions: In IDUs the risk of deep skin and soft tissue infections is high and may be aggravated by contamination with oral microorganisms. The choice of empirical antibiotic treatment should include agents active against oral cavity anaerobes, such as

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10984238PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20002297.2024.2334545DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

intravenous drug
12
necrotizing fasciitis
8
drug user
8
skin soft
8
soft tissue
8
tissue infections
8
oral cavity
8
empirical antibiotic
8
antimicrobial therapy
8
rare case
4

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!