Monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis complicating pregnancy and puerperium.

BACKGROUND

Necrotizing fasciitis is an uncommon, rapidly progressive, life-threatening infection involving the subcutaneous tissue and fascia. Usually, it is a synergistic polymicrobic infection that occurs in patients with coexisting factors predisposing them to bacterial inoculation and the spread of infection.

CASES

We report a monomicrobial variant of necrotizing fasciitis affecting three otherwise healthy pregnant or postpartum women. The necrotizing fasciitis involved either the lower extremity or the abdominal wall. The causative bacteria were Streptococcus pyogenes (two cases) and Staphylococcus aureus (one). All patients presented with an acute fulminant infection, including one woman who died from overwhelming sepsis.

CONCLUSION

These cases raise a question about the possible role of increased bacterial virulence and the immunologic changes of pregnancy as potential predisposing factors in the development of necrotizing fasciitis.