Chiara Cipriani, Valerio Iacovelli, Marco Sandri, Riccardo Bertolo, Francesco Maiorino, Francesco Antonucci, Salvatore Micali, Bernardo Rocco, Stefano Puliatti, Paolo Ferrarese, Giuseppe Benedetto, Andrea Minervini, Andrea Cocci, Antonio Luigi Pastore, Yazan Al Salhi, Alessandro Antonelli, Tonino Morena, Alessandro Volpe, Filippo Poletti, Antonio Celia, Guglielmo Zeccolini, Costantino Leonardo, Flavia Proietti, Enrico Finazzi Agrò, Pierluigi Bove
- PMID: 34024222
- DOI: 10.1177/03915603211018441
Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate the role of the microbiological profile and of disease-related factors in the management of patients affected with Fournier’s gangrene (FG).
Patients and methods: Data regarding patients admitted for FG at nine Italian Hospitals (March 2007-June 2018) were collected. Patients were stratified according to the number of microorganisms documented: Group A – one microorganism; Group B – two microorganisms; Group C – more than three microorganisms. Baseline blood tests, dedicated scoring systems, predisposing risk factors, disease’s features, management and post-operative course were analyzed. UpSet technique for visualizing set intersections in a matrix layout and Cuzick’s nonparametric test for trend across ordered groups were used.
Results: Eighty-one patients were available for the analysis: 18 included in Group A, 32 in Group B, 31 in Group C. The most common microorganism isolated was Escherichia coli. In Group B-C, Escherichia coli was often associated to Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Statistically significant positive association was highlighted among the number of pathogens (Group A vs B vs C) and serum C-reactive Protein (p < 0.001), procalcitonin (p = 0.02) and creatinine (p = 0.03). Scoring systems were associated with the number of microorganisms detected (p < 0.02). A significant association between the number of microorganisms and the use of VAC therapy and need of a fecal diversion was found (p < 0.02). The number of microorganisms was positively associated with the length of stay (LOS) (p = 0.02). Ten weeks after initial debridement, wound closure was achieved in 11 (91.7%), 22 (84.6%) and 20 (80%) patients in Group A, B, and C, respectively, with no differences in overall survival.
Conclusion: Polymicrobial infections in FG are positively associated with inflammatory scores, the need for fecal diversion and the LOS. This results may help the counseling and the clinical management of this rare niche of patients.
Keywords: Fournier’s gangrene; bacteria; microbiology; necrotizing fasciitis; urological infections.
