Aeromonas Bacteraemia Causing Gas Gangrene in a Diabetic Patient: a Case Report

Abstract

We present a case report of a middle-aged man, known diabetic on oral hypoglycaemics, who went fishing at the local fresh water lake 48hours before presenting in our Emergency Room (ER) with clinical features of toxicity of bacteraemia and a rapidly developing gas gangrene of the right leg. Early blood culture, culture of the aspirates from blebs, and subsequent culture of intraoperative specimens uniformly grew Aeromonas hydrophila. Urgent fasciotomy was carried out same day, and the patient was admitted into ICU for intensive monitoring and therapies. Second look procedures 48hours later showed turgid and oedematous gastrosoleus muscles. Repeat second look after another 48hours confirmed that the leg was unsalvageable. Above knee amputation surgery was carried out to save his life. He is a part time fisherman working full time at a waterworks