Presentation
Diabetic foot ulcer ?osteomyelitis.
Patient Data
Age: 80 years
Gender: Male
From the case:
Anaerobic cellulitis
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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.