Necrotizing Fasciitis Of Breast Research Articles

Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections of the Male and Female Breast: A Literature Review

Background: Within the spectrum of necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI), necrotizing fasciitis (NF) has been characterized by tissue and fascial necrosis with systemic toxicity. The objective was to determine and summarize the frequency and characteristics of breast NF and NSTI in the literature. Methods: Cases were obtained through PubMed, Google Scholar, Google, and from published article reference sections. One hundred twenty-three cases were gleaned from 96 articles that reported NF and NSTI of the breast (1924 through 2021). Results: NF was reported in 70 and NSTI in 53 cases (111 women and 12 men). Patients presented with swollen, painful breasts, erythema, bullae, crepitus, necrosis, gangrene, fever, tachycardia, and neutrophilia. Fifty-nine of 123 (48.4%) patients were septic on admission. The most frequent microorganisms were β hemolytic Group A Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus aureus. Treatment consisted of antibiotics, mastectomy and debridement with flaps, skin grafts or primary and secondary closure. Forty-four (63.0%) of the NF cases had chest wall involvement; of these, 18 (14.6%) involved the breast secondarily, P P = 0.007. Conclusions: Men and women with breast NF and NSTI presented with similar signs and symptoms and required the same emergent treatment as provided for NF and NSTI of the more common sites. As a time-sensitive disease, patients treated within 12 hours of admission had a better survival. Patients with NF were more likely to have sepsis on admission, a higher mortality, and fascial chest wall/muscle involvement than patients with NSTI.

Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Breast: A Review of the Literature.

Background: Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rare, rapidly progressing, and potentially fatal tissue infection involving subcutaneous tissue, superficial fascia, and the overlying skin. Breast NF is often misdiagnosed because of the thick breast tissue between the skin and deep fascia. Only early diagnosis followed by prompt antibiotic treatment and surgical therapy can prevent disastrous consequences. There are many case reports on breast NF, but a systematic review is lacking. Methods: Using PubMed and Scopus we performed a systematic review of the literature covering a period of 20 years. We reviewed articles with predisposing comorbidities (risk factors), triggering factors, laboratory examinations, culture of organisms, antibiotic treatment, surgical interventions, the presence of septic shock, and final outcome. We also performed statistical tests of all these factors in relation to death. Results: Forty cases identified from 38 articles were included in our literature review. Twenty-one cases (52.5%) were primary, whereas 15 cases (37.5%) occurred after surgery. In 15 cases (37.5%), the single organism responsible for NF was Streptococcus pyogenes, whereas mixed organisms were found in 17 cases (42.5%). Surgical debridement was performed in 39 (97.5%) cases. Septic shock was found in all five (12.5%) deceased cases and was associated with patient's mortality (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Breast NF is a rare, severe, and easily misdiagnosed complication. Breast NF could differ from that in other body regions in etiology pattern and clinical manifestations. Confirmed diagnosis of breast NF is based on the combination of clinical, cultural, laboratory, and imaging findings. Urgent subsequent treatments, including surgical debridement, antibiotic therapy, and reconstructive surgery, are critical for better prognosis and survival of patients.

Management of Primary Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Breast: A Systematic Review.

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a life-threatening infection that involves spreading necrosis of the subcutaneous tissue and fascia that affects the extremities, abdominal wall, and perineum. Primary infection of the breast is a rare occurrence. Shah et al described the first case of primary breast NF and recommended radical "pseudotumor" excision and delayed skin closure months after resolution. Numerous other cases reported were successfully managed with different strategies. We aimed to summarize management options for primary breast NF through a systematic review of the literature. A systematic review of English literature was performed using PubMed. A total of 58 abstracts were reviewed. Data were abstracted from 25 cases that met inclusion criteria. A total of 25 cases of primary NF of the breast without an inciting event were found within the literature. Common initial operations included total mastectomy (36.0%), excisional debridement (32.0%), and partial mastectomy (12.0%). A total or radical mastectomy was completed for definitive source control in 13 (52.0%) cases. A total of 18 cases underwent reconstruction. Split-thickness skin grafts (44.4%) and delayed primary closures (33.3%) were the most common methods of reconstruction. Majority of cases with primary breast NF are managed with a total mastectomy to gain source control. Reconstruction using split-thickness skin grafts was most common. Other options included delayed primary closure, full thickness skin grafts, local tissue rearrangement, and pedicle flap reconstruction. Reconstruction should be patient dependent, but the whole arsenal of the reconstructive ladder may be used.