Health-Related Quality of Life Is Decreased After Necrotizing Soft-Tissue Infections.

BACKGROUND: A necrotizing soft-tissue infection (NSTI) is a rare but severe infection with a high mortality rate of 12%-20%. Diagnosing is challenging and often delayed. Treatment consists of surgical debridement of all necrotic tissue and administration of antibiotics. Despite adequate treatment, survivors are often left with extensive wounds, resulting in mutilating scars and functional deficits. Both the disease and the subsequent scars can negatively influence the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The present study was performed to contribute to the knowledge about HRQoL in patients after NSTI. METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients treated for NSTI in a tertiary center in the Netherlands. Patient and treatment characteristics were collected and patients were asked to fill in a Short Form 36 questionnaire. RESULTS: Forty-six patients with a diagnosis of NSTI were identified. Twenty-eight (61%) were male and mean age was 57 y. Thirty-nine patients (80%) survived. Thirty-one (84%) of the survivors returned the questionnaire after a median follow-up of 4.1 y (interquartile range [IQR], 2.4-5.9 y). Statistically significantly decreased scores when compared to the Dutch reference values were observed for the Short Form 36 domains, physical functioning, role-physical functioning, general health, and the combined Physical Component Score. No differences were observed for the other five domains or for the Mental Component Score. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that NSTI negatively affects HRQoL as reported by the patient, especially on the physical domains. To learn more about HRQoL in patients after NSTI, studies in larger groups with a more disease-specific questionnaire should be performed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3, prognostic and epidemiological.

Result of Health Illiteracy and Cultural Stigma: Fournier's Gangrene, a Urological Emergency.

A 63-year-old Caucasian man presents to his regional hospital 8 days postinsertion of beads in his urethra, causing Fournier's gangrene of the penis and delayed surgical management of his gangrene. The reasons for his delay are cultural stigma associated with sexual practices and health illiteracy.

Gangrena de Fournier. Caso clínico y revisión de literatura / No disponible

La gangrena de Fournier es una condición grave que se presenta mayormente en varones a raíz de lesiones infecciosas perineales y en pacientes con factores de riesgo predisponentes. Los gérmenes implicados son bacilos gram negativos, cocos gram positivos y anaerobios, comensales de la zona perineal. El diagnóstico es clínico, encontrando desde lesiones eritematosas hasta necrosis junto con crepitación, y se confirma con pruebas de imagen, principalmente TC que es la prueba de referencia y nos muestra la extensión de la lesión. El pronóstico de supervivencia se calcula con el índice de severidad de la gangrena de Fournier que incluye parámetros analíticos y funcionales. El manejo consiste en tratamiento médico con antibióticos y desbridamiento quirúrgico urgente de las lesiones necróticas. Luego de la fase aguda se puede realizar cirugía reconstructiva de las zonas desbridadas con posterior rehabilitación para recuperación de la función. Entre otras opciones terapéuticas encontramos el cierre asistido por vacío, la aplicación de miel y la oxigenoterapia hiperbárica (AU)

Fournier's gangrene is a serious condition that occurs mostly in males following perineal infectious lesions and in patients with predisposing risk factors. Germs involved are gramnegative bacilli, positive cocci and anaerobes, located on perineum. The diagnosis is clinical, from erythematous lesions to necrosis with crepitus. Diagnosis is confirmed mainly with CT and shows the extent of the injury. The prognosis for survival is calculated using the Severity Index Fournier's gangrene which includes analytical and functional parameters. Management is medical treatment with antibiotics that requires emergency surgical debridement of necrotic lesions. After the acute phase can be performed reconstructive surgery of debrided areas with subsequent rehabilitation for functional recovery. Other therapeutic options are the vacuum-assisted closure, application of honey and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (AU)

Fascitis necrotizante perineal: Gangrena de Fournier / Perineal necrotizing fasciitis: Fournier's gangrene

La gangrena de Fournier o fascitis necrotizante perineal es una entidad infecciosa que afecta las fascias perineales y/o sus dependencias. Es prevalente en hombres de la 5ta o 6tadécada de su vida, y es más común en diabéticos, obesos, enolistas o inmunodeprimidos. El sostén metabólico, la antibioticoterapia, eldebridamiento de tejidos necróticos y la reparación de tejidos son los pilares del tratamiento. Reporte de casos: En el presente artículo presentamos unarevisión bibliográfica de esta enfermedad, y presentamos 3 casos dediferente resolución en nuestro hospital, a modo de ejemplo, con susrespectivos registros fotográficos. Discusión: La fascitis necrotizante perineal es una grave entidad infecciosa que requiere diagnóstico temprano, tratamiento oportuno multidisciplinario y reconstrucción de tejidos según el caso, para lo cual existen varias opciones...

Fournier's gangrene or perineal necrotizing fasciitis is an infectious entity affecting perineal fascias and / or its dependencies. It is more prevalent in men in the 5th or 6thdecade of life and is more common in diabetics, obese, alcoholics or immunodeppressed. Metabolic support, antibiotic therapy, debridement of necrotic tissue and tissue repair arethekey of treatment. Cases Report: In this article we present a literature review of the disease and present 3 cases of different resolution in ourhospital, as examples, with their photographic records. Discussion: The perineal necrotizing fasciitis is aseriousinfectious entity that requires early diagnosis, early multidisciplinary treatment and tissue reconstruction according to case, for which there are several options...

Treatment, outcome and quality of life after Fournier's gangrene: a multicentre study.

AIM: The object of this study was to describe the course of Fournier's gangrene and assess quality of life in a group of affected patients. METHOD: We evaluated patients who received inpatient treatment for Fournier's gangrene at five hospitals in northern Germany from 1995 to 2010. Surviving patients were asked to take part in a clinical follow-up and complete the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) quality-of-life questionnaire and a disease-specific questionnaire including a physical examination. RESULTS: Of the 86 patients, 72 (83.7%) were men. The mean age of the patients was 57.9 ± 13.9 (25-89) years. The mean length of hospital stay was 52.0 ± 54.0 (1-329) days. Fourteen (16.3%) patients (eight men) died primarily from Fournier's gangrene. The most common aetiological event was anogenital abscess formation (n = 24; 27.9%). Seventy-one (82.5%) patients had a mixed polymicrobial infection. SF-36 physical role functioning (P = 0.010), physical functioning (P = 0.008), general health (P = 0.010) and physical health summary (P = 0.006) scores were significantly lower than those of the normal population. Deterioration in sexual function was reported by 65% of the patients. CONCLUSION: Patients with Fournier's gangrene experience persistent physical and mental health problems for a long period of time following their primary hospital stay and must receive long-term care from a variety of specialists, otherwise the disease leads to an increase in the duration of morbidity and a decrease in quality of life.

[Fournier syndrome: the perception of the patient]. / Síndrome de Fournier: a percepção do seu portador.

The purpose of the present investigation was to identify the perception of the Fournier syndrome's patients about their disease and caregivers. Data was collected by means of interviews with a structured routine and the analysis was based on the André's analysis of prose. According to the patients, the syndrome causes intense pain, edema, fever and wounds, demanding surgical treatment, dressings and bringing physical, economical and familiar problems. The caregivers' attitudes and behaviors were described as having more negative aspects than good ones. The necessity of a better training of the caregivers in the cognitive, psychomotor and affective sense is evident.