Question 25

College Answer

Resuscitation

• High-flow oxygen,
• Support BP with fluids +/- vasopressors 
• Measure & fix BSL
• Other organ support as indicated e.g. CRRT

Antibiotics

• The presentation is that of necrotising fasciitis. T1DM a significant risk factor. 
• Until microbial aetiology and sensitivities are known, broad-spectrum antibiotics should be administered that cover the most common aetiologies of type I infection (mixed infections with anaerobes such as Bacteroides or Peptostreptococcus with a facultative anaerobe such as Enterobacteriaceae [Escherichia coli, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Proteus], MRSA, or non-group A streptococcus), and also type II (group A streptococcus) infection.
• Appropriate initial antibiotic regime is Vancomycin / Meropenem / Clindamycin with Pip-Tazo OR Ceftriaxone and Metronidazole OR Ciprofloxacin and Metronidazole as alternatives to Meropenem. Clindamycin is bacteriostatic, has synergistic effect with Vancomycin, inhibits bacterial toxin synthesis by GAS and has a post-antibiotic effect.
• When further micro information is available, antibiotic therapy should be narrowed to appropriately target the causative organism(s)

Surgical Referral and post-operative management

• Requires urgent debridement, with removal of dead/infected tissue back to bleeding tissue
• Takes priority over other therapies including hyperbaric O2
• Expectation of major blood loss and massive transfusion
• Likely to be highly unstable post-operatively with major support requirement

Routine ICU care of patient with severe sepsis

Specific Therapies

• Intravenous Immunoglobulin
  • In vitro neutralisation of streptococcal super-antigens and clostridial toxins
  • Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (with or without nec. fasc.) listed as “emerging” indication for IVIG by ARCBS, and available for use 
• Hyperbaric O₂
  • Observational studies only
  • Conflicting results with both reduction and increases in mortality seen cf.
  • Observational controls
  • Possible reduction in need for debridement Usually bd to tds dives of 90 min at 3 atm.
  • Severe organ failure may limit logistics

Discussion

This question is identical to Question 24 from the first paper of 2011.

The discussion section from that previous question is reproduced below, to simplify revision

A boringly algorithmic answer to this question would look something like this:

• Attention to the ABCS, with management of life-threatening problems simultanous with a rapid focused examination and a brief history.
• Airway
  • Assess the need for intubation in the context of a potentially decreased level of consciousness
• Breathing/ventilation
  • Assess efficacy of spontaneous breathing, and the need for mechanical ventilation.
  • Administer supplemental oxygen at a high flow- it may not be particularly helpful at atmospheric pressure, but hyperoxia does seem to retard the growth of anaerobic organisms.
• Circulatory support
  • Administer a 20-30ml/kg fluid bolus
  • Secure central venous access and commence vasopressors- start with noradrenaline
  • Aim for a MAP over 65mmHg
• Specific investigations
  • A full panel of blood tests including blood cultures, CK and an ABG
  • A CT scan of the lower limbs and pelvis, as a prelude to surgical intervention
• Supportive management
  • Continue fluid resuscitation and vasopressors in pursuit of haemodynamic goals
  • Ensure normoglycaemia and normoxia
  • Correct acid base balance
  • Attend to organ system failure - consider early dialysis if there is rhabdomyolysis
• Monitoring
  • Admit to ICU
  • Commence continuous blood pressure monitoring via arterial line
  • Assess for ketosis/ketoacidosis - this is a Type 1 diabetic, and this is exactly the sort of trigger that would produce a DKA.
• Specific management
  • Commence broad spectrum antibiotics. In this case, the choice is clindamycin plus anycillin or anypenem. The addition of clindamycin is well supported - particularly with Group A streptococci, where it inhibits the bacterial synthesis of endotoxin.
  • Immediately contact surgical services for source control - debridement is the single most useful management strategy; everything else is fairly cosmetic in terms of decreasing mortality.
  • Consider IV immunoglobulin (i.e. if this is a streptococcal toxic shock syndrome - which manifests as massive cardiovascular collapse and organ system failure very early in the infective process). The use of IVIG in this setting has been well studied, and though those European investigators didn't reach statistical significance in their primary endpoit (mortality), they did note a significant decrease in organ failure scores in the IVIG group.
  • Consider an early referral to a specialist centre where hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be carried out. This management strategy historically did not seem to reduce either mortality or the number of debridements. However, recent data suggests that they were doing it wrong in the 1990s, and modern hyperbaric oxygen therapy seems to be associated with a 50% reduction in mortality (from 9.4% to 4.5%).

The key points to remember are:

• Source control
• Clindamycin
• IV immunoglobulin
• Hyperbaric oxygen

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