incision area started looking bigger. She did not call her surgeon. The leg has continued to swell. The patient went straight to surgery and the wound was debrided. Gram-positive cocci growing in chains were isolated in the culture. She received IV antibiotics in the ICU but 18 hours later, her lower leg had to be amputated below the knee. What condition did the patient have? What was the etiological agent? Why was amputation the best solution for the infection?
Case 12: A woman is brought to the emergency department where you work triage. She has an extremely swollen right lower leg. You see what appears to be an old surgical wound in the mid-calf, with rough scar tissue surrounded by purplish-red skin. She is in a lot of pain. Her husband tells you that three weeks ago she had a group of moles removed from that area. It appeared to heal well initially, but three days ago, the incision area started looking bigger. She did not call her surgeon. The leg has continued to swell.
The patient went straight to surgery and the wound was debrided. Gram-positive cocci growing in chains were isolated in the culture. She received IV antibiotics in the ICU but 18 hours later, her lower leg had to be amputated below the knee.
- What condition did the patient have? What was the etiological agent?
- Why was amputation the best solution for the infection?
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