PROGRESSIVE BACTERIAL SYNERGISTIC GANGRENE: REPORT OF A CASE TREATED WITH CHLORAMPHENICOL
Authors: J G SMITH
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1956)

Case Reports1 May 1956PROGRESSIVE BACTERIAL SYNERGISTIC GANGRENE: REPORT OF A CASE TREATED WITH CHLORAMPHENICOLJ. GRAHAM SMITH JR., M.D.J. GRAHAM SMITH JR., M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-44-5-1007 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptHISTORYA case of clinically recognizable progressive bacterial synergistic gangrene was reported as early as 1909.1 Two other cases were reported in 1924,2, 3 but it was not until 1926 that Meleney clearly demonstrated the etiology of the infection.ETIOLOGYBacteriologic studies4were made by Meleney on the lesion of a patient who had developed a progressive gangrene of the abdominal wall following the surgical drainage of an appendiceal abscess. A micro-aerophilic nonhemolytic streptococcus was cultured from far out in the spreading periphery of the lesion.Micrococcus pyogenesvar.aureus(hemolyticStaphylococcus aureus) and diphtheroid bacilli were cultured from the...Bibliography1. Luckett WH: Large phagedenic ulcer of abdomen, Ann. Surg. 50: 605-608 (Sept.) 1909. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Christopher F: Severe spreading carbuncular infection of chest wall following rib resection under local anesthesia, S. Clin. North America 4: 795-810 (June) 1924. Google Scholar3. Cullen TS: A progressively enlarging ulcer of the abdominal wall involving the skin and fat, following drainage of an abdominal abscess apparently of appendiceal origin, Surg., Gynec. and Obst. 38: 579-582 (May) 1924. Google Scholar4. BrewerMeleney GEFL: Progressive gangrenous infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, following operation for acute perforative appendicitis: a study in symbiosis, Ann. Surg. 84: 438-450 (Sept.) 1926. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Meleney FL: Bacterial synergism in disease processes with a confirmation of the synergistic bacterial etiology of a certain type of progressive gangrene of the abdominal wall, Ann. Surg. 94: 961-981 (Dec.) 1931. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Meleney FL: A differential diagnosis between certain types of infectious gangrene of the skin, Surg., Gynec. and Obst. 56: 847-867 (May) 1933. Google Scholar7. MeleneyShambaughMillen FLPRS: Systemic bacitracin in the treatment of progressive bacterial synergistic gangrene, Ann. Surg. 131: 129-144 (Feb.) 1950. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. LyallStuart ARD: Progressive postoperative gangrene of skin: observations on aetiology and treatment in two cases, Glasgow M. J. 29: 1-18 (Jan.) 1948. MedlineGoogle Scholar9. BrunstingGoeckermannO'Leary LAWHPA: Pyoderma (echthyma) gangrenosum, Arch. Dermat. and Syph. 22: 655-680 (Oct.) 1930. CrossrefGoogle Scholar10. Meleney FL: Clinical aspects and treatment of surgical infections, 1949, W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, pp. 62-70. Google Scholar11. DostrovskySagher AF: A study on ulcus phagedenicum cutis, Arch. Dermat. and Syph. 54: 408-424 (Oct.) 1946. CrossrefGoogle Scholar12. MeleneyFriedmanHarvey FLSTHD: Treatment of progressive synergistic gangrene with penicillin, Surgery 18: 423-435 (Oct.) 1945. Google Scholar13. WooldridgeHogeboom WEGW: Progressive bacterial synergistic gangrene: report of a case uncontrolled by systemic administration of bacitracin, Arch. Dermat. and Syph. 67: 56-60 (Jan.) 1953. Google Scholar14. Meleney FL: Present role of zinc peroxide in treatment of surgical infections, J. A. M. A. 149: 1450-1453 (Aug. 16) 1952. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar15. Marcus R: Progressive bacterial synergistic gangrene of legs, Brit. M. J. 1: 1230-1231 (June 7) 1952. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Durham, North Carolina*Received for publication March 14, 1955.From the Division of Dermatology and Syphilology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byProgressive postoperative subcutaneous gangrene following excision of carcinoma of the rectumInfections Due to Non-Clostridial Anaerobes 1 May 1956Volume 44, Issue 5Page: 1007-1015KeywordsBacterial physiologyChloramphenicolDermatologyErythemaEtiologyLesionsStaphylococcus aureusStreptococcusUlcersZinc Issue Published: 1 May 1956 PDF downloadLoading ...