Key result
Nonclostridial gas infections occur in ~17% of diabetic patients with orthopedic vascular complications.
Why the study?
Nonclostridial gas gangrene is infrequently reported and considered relatively rare, requiring better characterization especially in diabetic patients with orthopedic vascular problems.
Observational (n=278)
Nonclostridial gas gangrene is more common than clostridial gas gangrene in diabetic patients with orthopedic vascular problems, and appropriate therapy yields low mortality.
Nonclostridial gas infections may be underrecognized in diabetics; leaves open the need for prospective validation of diagnostic criteria.
Gangrenous lesions accompanied by evidence of subcutaneous gas usually are diagnosed as "clostridial gas gangrene." The occurrence of nonclostridial gas gangrene has been infrequently reported and is thought to be relatively rare. Review of 278 admissions of diabetic patients with orthopedic vascular problems disclosed a 17% (48 patients) incidence of nonclostridial gas infections and a 3% (one patient) occurrence of clostridial gas gangrene. Clinical characteristics ranged from severe to benign toxicity. Appreciation of the causative organisms (usually mixed Gram-negative rod and enterococcus) of this syndrome is essential, especially in the diabetic patient, since appropriate antibiotic therapy and surgery can result in a low mortality (4%) and a high incidence (80%) of ambulatory, independent patients. (JAMA233:958-963, 1975)
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Alice N. Bessman (1975) conducted an observational in Diabetic patients with orthopedic vascular problems (n=278). Nonclostridial gas infections was evaluated on Incidence of nonclostridial gas infections. Among diabetic patients with orthopedic vascular problems, nonclostridial gas infections had an incidence of 17%, and appropriate therapy resulted in a low mortality of 4%.
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