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Fournier's gangrene and its emergency management.

Thwaini A, Khan A, Malik A, Cherian J, Barua J, Shergill I, Mammen K

Barts and the London Hospitals NHS Trust, UK. iniziaj@hotmail.com

Fournier's gangrene (FG) is a rare but life threatening disease. Although originally thought to be an idiopathic process, FG has been shown to have a predilection for patients with diabetes as well as long term alcohol misuse; however, it can also affect patients with non-obvious immune compromise. The nidus is usually located in the genitourinary tract, lower gastrointestinal tract, or skin. FG is a mixed infection caused by both aerobic and anaerobic bacterial flora. The development and progression of the gangrene is often fulminating and can rapidly cause multiple organ failure and death. Because of potential complications, it is important to diagnose the disease process as early as possible Although antibiotics and aggressive debridement have been broadly accepted as the standard treatment, the death rate remains high.

Published 7 August 2006 in Postgrad Med J, 82(970): 516-9.
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