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WARNING, Graphic video
What was suspected to be a spider bite turned out to be an ingrown hair that became infected with MRSA.
For the curious: The procedure
1. Wound was double circumscribed, the infected area identified.
2. The wound was injected with local anesthetic. The anesthetic, probably lidocaine, was unlikely to have epinephrine which restricts blood flow. The practitioner suspected infection and wanted to keep blood profusion going at the site.
3. The wound was expressed with pus and fluid swabbed for culturing.
4. Wound was incised for access.
5. Dead tissue, fibrous bands, deep fascia, collagen and elastin fibers excised for pathological examination.
6. Normal saline irrigation
7. Wound is packed with sterile antibiotic infused gauze. This allows for drainage and blood circulation.
According to dermatologist reports, the commonest cause in injuries of this nature is MRSA, found in over half of subcutaneous 'angry' wounds. Spider bites only account for a very small fraction of these types of injuries and most of those that develop complications have acted as pathways for bacteria to invade. Envenomation is extremely rare with many medical experts placing it around 1 in 10,000 to 50,000 invasive wounds of this nature.
What was suspected to be a spider bite turned out to be an ingrown hair that became infected with MRSA.
For the curious: The procedure
1. Wound was double circumscribed, the infected area identified.
2. The wound was injected with local anesthetic. The anesthetic, probably lidocaine, was unlikely to have epinephrine which restricts blood flow. The practitioner suspected infection and wanted to keep blood profusion going at the site.
3. The wound was expressed with pus and fluid swabbed for culturing.
4. Wound was incised for access.
5. Dead tissue, fibrous bands, deep fascia, collagen and elastin fibers excised for pathological examination.
6. Normal saline irrigation
7. Wound is packed with sterile antibiotic infused gauze. This allows for drainage and blood circulation.
According to dermatologist reports, the commonest cause in injuries of this nature is MRSA, found in over half of subcutaneous 'angry' wounds. Spider bites only account for a very small fraction of these types of injuries and most of those that develop complications have acted as pathways for bacteria to invade. Envenomation is extremely rare with many medical experts placing it around 1 in 10,000 to 50,000 invasive wounds of this nature.
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