necrotizing fascitis children

BACKGROUND: Despite the significant associated morbidity of necrotizing fasciitis (NF), few studies have been published and this is the larger pediatric series in Latin America. AIM: To describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and microbiology of NF in Costa Rican children. METHODS: Review of clinical and pathological records, period April 2002 to April 2014, in patients under 13 years of age. RESULTS: 19/22 patients met the inclusion requirement, 12 had co-morbidity: 26% with a history of recent surgery and 21% were neonates...

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rapidly progressive, potentially fatal infection of the superficial fascia and subcutaneous tissue. It is rare in children. We report three such cases in which differentiating from common soft tissue infection was challenging. High index of suspicion is important as management initiated at an early stage is rewarding.

The skin infections are common in pediatrics, ranging from furonculosis or impetigo to the severe forms of necrotizing dermohypodermitis. The general antibiotic treatments are not always indicated but when they are, they must take into account the resistance of two main species of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes), the pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamic parameters and the severity and type of infection. Two situations should be treated by topical treatements: limited impetigo and furonculosis...

BACKGROUND: Necrotizing fascitis (NF) is a severe infection of the subcutaneous tissue and fascia affecting children and adults. Conventional management includes resuscitation, aggressive debridement of necrotic tissue, and sometimes, additional measures such as hyperbaric oxygen and immunoglobulin therapy. This paper reports conservative management of 18 patients with NF with minimal morbidity and mortality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with NF admitted to our department between January 2000 and February 2004 were included in the study (N = 18)...

The Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) has radically changed the handling of the children with nutritional problems that until then were forced to receive nutritionals contributions by parenteral or enteral way, by nasogastric tube, conventional surgical gastrostomy or by central venous access. The objective of this work was to evaluate our experience with 60 patients, with diverse pathologies, that needed a PEG so that they could receive a suitable nutritional contribution. Were registered data of age, sex, reason for the accomplishment of the PEG, used surgical time, days of hospital stay and we analyzed the complications derived from the technique...

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation is currently the standard of care for patients with end stage liver disease. However due to the cadaveric organ shortage, live donor liver transplantation (LDLT), has been recently introduced as a potential solution. We analyzed and support our initial experience with this procedure at USC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From September 1998 until July 2000, a total of 27 patients underwent LDLT at USC University Hospital and Los Angeles Children's Hospital...