Lower Extremity Wounds in Patients With Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Infections in lower extremities are sometimes concerned with systemic immunological disorders such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and systemic lupus erythematosus, which are treated with systemic steroids. Steroid therapy impairs the epithelial wound healing and with systemic condition, especially with systemic lupus erythematosus, the wound is susceptible for infection. Even a pyoderma gangrenosum sometimes occurs in a patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura with an incisional wound of hernia. The severe signs and symptoms are the deep skin and soft tissue infections, mainly caused by group A streptococcus, composed of necrotizing fasciitis and muscle necrosis. Medically suspected necrotizing fasciitis patients should be empirically and immediately administered with broad-spectrum antibiotics, which may cover the common suspected pathogens. In type I (polymicrobial) infection, the selection of antimicrobial should be based on medical history and Gram staining and culture. The coverage against anaerobes is important in type I infection. Metronidazole, clindamycin, or beta-lactams with beta-lactamase inhibitor or carbapenems are the treatment of choice against anaerobes, while early surgical debridement—wide enough and deep enough—is the core treatment of necrotizing fasciitis and results in significantly better mortality compared with those who underwent surgery after a few hours of delay. When necrotizing fasciitis is considered and the patient i...
Source: The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds - Category: Surgery Authors: Tags: Reviews Source Type: research