Nosocomial transmission of necrotising fasciitis organisms from prepartum patient to healthcare worker

BMJ Case Rep. 2021 May 31;14(5):e240848. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2020-240848.

Abstract

Necrotising fasciitis is an aggressive skin and soft tissue infection requiring urgent surgical treatment, resuscitative efforts and intensive care management. We herein present a case of necrotising fasciitis with nosocomial transmission of causative organisms from patient to healthcare worker. Bacterial transmission from human to human despite personal protective equipment is quite rare, and with limited reports in the literature. The patient was also prepartum, representing to our knowledge, one of only a handful of cases of prepartum necrotising fasciitis. Recommendations to avoid healthcare worker transmission include wearing Association of the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation level 4 gowns during debridement, as well as eye protection and changing scrubs and showering between cases.

Keywords: infectious diseases; plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cross Infection*
  • Fasciitis, Necrotizing* / therapy
  • Health Personnel
  • Humans
  • Skin
  • Soft Tissue Infections*