Failure to observe proper precautions while making injections can result in life-threatening complications.
Patient selection: intra-articular injection
Complication: necrotizing infection, including necrotizing fasciitis
Pathogens: may include Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Gram-negative bacteria, anaerobic bacteria, mixed
Risk factors:
(1) repeated injections
(2) inexperienced provider
(3) failure to observe proper technique (sterile equipment, skin decontamination)
(4) contaminated injectate
(5) immunocompromised state
(6) diabetes mellitus
(7) skin colonization with pathogenic bacteria
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Specialty: Infectious Diseases