Clostridial myonecrosis in a patient undergoing oxacillin therapy for exacerbation of chronic foot ulcers and osteomyelitis. A case report

Abstract

Gas gangrene developed from a chronic foot ulcer in the absence of periferal vascular disease or diabetes mellitus in a hospitalized patient undergoing parenteral antibiotic therapy. Within a 6 hour period the patient developed profound toxemia necessitating emergency and life saving leg amputation. Classically clostridial myonecrosis is diagnosed by the clinical course and the gram stain. In this case, 2 preoperative gram stains failed to show gram-positive rods. At the time of surgery, frank fasical and muscle necrosis in the peroneal compartment dictated extending the below knee amputation to above the knee. In retrospect demonstration of clostridial species and myonecrosis in the pathological specimen confirmed the clinical impression. The identified organism, Clostridium sporogenes has rarely been implicated as a cause of gas gangrene.