Fatal Clostridium septicum multifocal myonecrosis in a previously healthy 25-year-old man: Role of NSAIDs?

We report a fatal septic shock due to a multifocal clostridial myonecrosis in a previously healthy young patient whose presentation and outcome may have been affected by Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) exposure. Death occurred 12 hours after his admission to the Emergency Department (ED) despite prompt surgical debridement and appropriate antibiotics. A previously healthy 25-year-old male patient presented to the ED for a sudden pain of the right forearm and left buttock that had appeared simultaneously 24 hours earlier. Re also reported a 48-hour history of pharyngitis for which he had taken oral ibuprofen. There was no recent trauma but the patient used to practice intensive bodybuilding. Clostridial myonecrosis is a rare but life-threatening condition. In the absence of trauma, Clostridiurn septicum is the leading microorganism mostly observed in patients presenting with hematological malignancies or colon cancer. Prompt surgical debridement and timely antibiotic administration are needed. Clinical presentation and outcome may be altered by NSAID consumption.