Danijel Erdani¹, Nadja Alikadič¹, Miloš Macura¹, Danijela Semenič^1,2 and Igor Frangež^1,2*

¹Clinical Department for Surgical Infections, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia
²Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

*Corresponding Author: Igor Frangež, Clinical Department for Surgical Infections, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Received: December 18, 2021; Published: January 06, 2022

Abstract

Introduction: Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a type of necrotizing soft-tissue infection (NSTI) with high mortality rate. Typical clinical status of a patient with NF includes initial symptoms and signs such as non-specific skin changes, fever and localised pain, which later progress to tissue necrosis, sepsis and systemic toxicity. Compartment syndrome can also be a complication of the disease.

Case Presentation: We present a case of 42-year-old Iraqi Kurdish male, who suffered NF after a snake bite in central Europe (the snake was identified as non-venomous; S. pyogenes was isolated from the wound), which later progressed to compartment syndrome of the lower leg. The patient also had positive PCR test for Covid-19 infection at the time of admission. Later, the patient underwent extensive treatment of NF, which included surgical debridement, broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy and intensive support treatment. He survived without significant subsequent impairment.

Conclusion: There are far more clinical cases of secondary infection of the snakebite wound described in tropical climates than continental European climate, in which our case has occurred. Patients with underlying chronic diseases and leucocytosis could be more susceptible to the development of secondary NF with high-grade tissue damage and multi-organ failure. Urgent fasciotomy, optimal antibiotic therapy and intensive care treatment are crucial. 

Keywords: Necrotizing Fasciitis; Compartment Syndrome; Snake Bite; Streptococcus; Septic Shock

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Citation: Igor Frangež., et al. “Necrotizing Fasciitis with Compartment Syndrome of the Lower Leg After Non-venomous Snake Bite in Central Europe: Case Report". Acta Scientific Clinical Case Reports 3.2 (2022): 21-27.

Copyright: © 2022 Igor Frangež., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.