Anaerobic infections of the skin and soft tissues

Abstract

Five cases of anaerobic infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues have been presented. While the first three cases were diagnosed as progressive bacterial synergistic gangrene, the fourth was diagnosed as synergistic necrotising cellulitis and the last case as a non-clostridial crepitant cellulitis. All these cases needed energetic treatment. Mortality is high, particularly in synergistic necrotising cellulitis. In all cases, an aggressive debridement of the wound by excision through the adjoining healthy tissue, intensive antimicrobial therapy with penicillin and metronidazole and vigorous supportive measures to correct anaemia, electrolyte derangements and associated diseases may help to salvage some of these otherwise hopeless cases.