Periorbital necrotising fasciitis secondary to scratching

Abstract

An 80 year-old woman with no relevant medical history, consulted for worsening of right palpebral itching and pain after an insect bite. Her eyelids had areas of laceration due to scratching, which rapidly progressed to fibrinoid necrosis over the first 24 h. Lesions were cultivated, revealing Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. The patient was admitted to hospital with the diagnosis of periorbital necrotising fasciitis, in order to receive treatment with intravenous ceftriaxone, linezolid, and immediate surgical debridement. She remained in hospital for 17 days. Daily wound management consisted of debridement of necrotic remains, disinfection with chlorhexidine, and wound dressing with mupirocin, sulfadiazine, and miconazole ointments. The patient suffered streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, but she recovered over the first week. Palpebral reconstruction was performed on day 15, consisting of a preauricular total thickness skin graft for the superior eyelid, and lateral malar advancement to cover the lower eyelid. Adequate cosmetic and functional results were obtained.

Resumen

Mujer de 80 años sin antecedentes médicos que consulta por empeoramiento de picor y dolor palpebral derecho tras la picadura de un insecto. Presenta zonas de laceración por rascado en los párpados, que evolucionan a placas de necrosis fibrinoide durante las primeras 24 horas. Se cultivan las lesiones, demostrando Streptococcus pyogenes y Staphylococcus aureus. Se ingresa a la paciente con diagnóstico de fascitis necrosante periorbitaria para tratamiento intravenoso con ceftriaxona, linezolid y desbridamiento quirúrgico urgente. Permanece ingresada durante 17 días; se le realizan curas diarias consistentes en desbridamiento de restos necróticos, limpieza con clorhexidina y curas con pomadas de mupirocina, sulfadiazina y miconazol. Sufre síndrome de shock tóxico estreptocócico, del que se recupera durante la primera semana de ingreso. A las 2 semanas se le realiza reconstrucción plapebral con autoinjerto de piel de espesor total preauricular en el párpado superior y avance malar lateral en el párpado inferior, con adecuado resultado cosmético y funcional.