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Life‐threatening soft‐tissue infections of the neck
Author(s) -
Beck Howard J.,
Salassa John R.,
Mccaffrey Thomas V.,
Hermans Paul E.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-198403000-00012
Subject(s) - medicine , cellulitis , mediastinitis , soft tissue , streptococcus pyogenes , disseminated intravascular coagulation , fasciitis , abscess , respiratory distress , toxic shock syndrome , septic shock , surgery , sepsis , staphylococcus aureus , biology , bacteria , genetics
Four adult patients had life‐threatening soft‐tissue infections of the neck. One had Hemophilus influenzae infection, one had Streptococcus pyogenes infection, and two had polymicrobial mixed aerobic and anaerobic infections. Three of the four patients died despite appropriate antimicrobial therapy and surgical intervention. These cases demonstrate the spectrum of serious soft‐tissue infections of the neck in both the compromised and the uncompromised host. Soft‐tissue infections of the neck may be necrotizing or nonnecrotizing. Cellulitis secondary to H. influenzae and β‐hemolytic streptococci is usually non‐necrotizing, whereas necrotizing infections are caused most commonly by synergistic organisms. Potential complications include septic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute renal failure, adult respiratory distress syndrome, mediastinitis, and pericarditis. Early recognition with aggressive medical and surgical therapy is essential to reduce the mortality.