%0 Journal Article
%T Gas-Producing Infections in the Foot at a Large Academic Medical Center: A 10-Year Retrospective Review.
%A Martucci JA
%A Riemer K
%J J Foot Ankle Surg
%V 62
%N 2
%D Mar-Apr 2023
%M 36270882
%F 1.345
%R 10.1053/j.jfas.2022.09.004
%X Gas-producing infections, such as clostridial and nonclostridial gas gangrene, crepitant cellulitis, and necrotizing fasciitis, are characterized in the literature by a variety of initial presentations, microbial burdens and surgical outcomes-ranging from debridement to amputation to death. The primary aim of this study was to identify the organisms cultured in gas-producing infections of the foot in patients that presented to a large academic medical center over a 10-year period. Our secondary aims were to report the prevalence of sepsis in this population upon presentation, and patient outcomes upon discharge. After a retrospective chart review of 207,534 procedures, 70 surgical cases met inclusion criteria. The most common organisms that grew in operating room cultures were Staphylococcus aureus, Group B Beta Streptococcus, and Enterococcus species. Just over half of the population presented with sepsis. After an average of 2 or more operations, 64% of patients underwent amputation. One death occurred. Gas-producing infections, or "gas gangrene," are primarily polymicrobial infections, rarely due to Clostridium perfringens, that warrant surgical exploration for optimal outcomes.