Meleney's Gangrene of the Abdomen Managed With Serial Debridement and Negative Pressure Wound Therapy: A Case Report

Meleney's gangrene (necrotizing fasciitis (NF)), also known as progressive bacterial synergistic gangrene, is a potentially fatal subcutaneous tissue infection with abdominal wall necrosis that progresses rapidly and systematically. It has been observed to exhibit the cultural characteristics of a symbiotic organism. Due to its rarity and high mortality rate, this infection needs to be diagnosed promptly and treated aggressively with antibiotics and rigorous debridement. There are several approaches to management, which include intravenous antibiotics, aggressive debridement, and dressings, along with the application of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). Herein, we report the case of a 45-year-old male patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus who presented to our facility after being bitten by an insect and exhibiting symptoms of Meleney's gangrene of the abdomen.