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Necrotizing Candida Infection After Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy: A Fatal and Rare Complication
Author(s) -
Wirth Rainer,
Bauer Jürgen,
Sieber Cornel
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.935
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1941-2444
pISSN - 0148-6071
DOI - 10.1177/0148607108316190
Subject(s) - complication , medicine , percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy , gastrostomy , surgery , percutaneous , enteral administration , parenteral nutrition , finance , peg ratio , economics
Gastrostomy site infections following percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) are the most common complication after PEG placement. Recent meta‐analyses were able to show that PEG site infections can be reduced significantly with a systemic antimicrobial prophylaxis. This mostly cephalosporin‐ or penicillin‐based prophylaxis does not cover fungal infections. Although Candida skin infections after PEG placement are rarely described, a mucosal colonization or infection of the upper GI tract with Candida species is very common, especially in severely ill patients such as those requiring artificial nutrition. The authors report a rare and lethal case of a necrotizing PEG site infection with Candida albicans in a patient with diabetes with multiple comorbidities, presenting like gas gangrene. In patients with probable immunodeficiency or visible candidiasis of the skin, oropharynx, or esophagus, a Candida infection should be considered in case of a gastrostomy site infection.