Joseph Jones: Infection with flesh eating bacteria

A Confederate Army surgeon, Joseph Jones, is generally credited to have provided the first modern description of necrotizing fasciitis, then known as hospital gangrene. This is a soft tissue infection characterized by a rapid and progressive course. In the 1990s, this entity has been popularized by...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of emergency medicine 1996-11, Vol.14 (6), p.747-753
Main Authors: Quirk, William F., Sternbach, George
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Bacterial diseases
Bacterial diseases of the skin
Biological and medical sciences
Debridement
Drug Therapy, Combination - therapeutic use
Fasciitis, Necrotizing - diagnostic imaging
Fasciitis, Necrotizing - history
Fasciitis, Necrotizing - microbiology
Fasciitis, Necrotizing - therapy
History of medicine
History, 19th Century
Human bacterial diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Jones
Medical sciences
necrotizing fasciitis
Radiography
soft tissue infection, flesh eating bacteria
Streptococcal Infections - microbiology
Streptococcus pyogenes
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A Confederate Army surgeon, Joseph Jones, is generally credited to have provided the first modern description of necrotizing fasciitis, then known as hospital gangrene. This is a soft tissue infection characterized by a rapid and progressive course. In the 1990s, this entity has been popularized by the media as representing infection with “flesh eating bacteria.” Certain patients are at particular risk to develop necrotizing soft tissue infections. Those with unpaired immunity, diabetes mellitus, and intravenous drug abuse are particularly vulnerable, but these infections can also occur in previously healthy patients. Diagnostic radiographic testing is often helpful, including the use of plain radiographs, computed tomographic (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The most frequent infecting bacterial organism is Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus, and there are indications to suggest that this organism may be acquiring greater virulence. Many infections, however, involve several bacterial pathogens. The keys to successful outcome are early diagnosis and surgical debridement. Fluid resuscitation and administration of broad spectrum antibiotics should be initiated as soon as the diagnosis is suspected.
ISSN:0736-4679
2352-5029
DOI:10.1016/S0736-4679(96)00197-7