Anaerobic cellulitis

Case contributed by Henry Knipe
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Diabetic foot ulcer ?osteomyelitis.

Patient Data

Age: 80 years
Gender: Male
x-ray

Soft tissue gas projects over the plantar surface of the 5th MTP joint - this is in keeping with gangrene. No radiographic changes of advanced osteomyelitis.

Case Discussion

On examination patient's foot was cellulitic. Proteus mirabilis was isolated on culture. 

There is confusion regarding the term "gas gangrene", which in the true sense of the definition refers to skeletal muscle clostridial infection (myonecrosis / clostridial myositis). When the muscle is not infected with Clostridium spp. the term "anaerobic cellulitis" is preferable.

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