Non-clostridial gas gangrene in diabetic lower limbs with peripheral vascular disease

Abstract

Introduction Infections in diabetics are common. Some infections like necrotizing fasciitis are known to affect the diabetic lower limb and rapidly spread to affect the entire limb. Gas gangrene, whether clostridial or non-clostridial, is a serious and often a limband lifethreatening infection with a very high mortality rate. Non-clostridial gas gangrene is a relatively rare entity. This article describes a rare case of non-clostridial gas gangrene of the diabetic lower limb with peripheral vascular disease. Case report A 43-year-old male presented to our emergency department with a history of pain in his left lower limb for the past 10 days. The patient was fortunate to survive but ended up in bilateral major lower-limb amputation. According to us, this is the irst rare case reported from India. Conclusion Non-clostridial gas gangrene is rare in literature and its occurrence in diabetic lower limbs with peripheral vascular disease is extremely rare.