Background
- A necrotizing soft tissue infection that involves the scrotum and penis or the vulva
- The main risk factor is diabetes mellitus
Microbiology
- Mostly caused by mixed aerobic and anaerobic organisms
- The mix can sometimes include Staphylococcus aureus and/or Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Can be caused by monomicrobial Staphylococcus aureus infection as well
Pathophysiology
- Typically from contiguous spread from:
- A perianal or retroperitoneal infection, or
- A urinary tract infection, particularly with urethral stricture, or
- Traumatic inoculation into the soft tissues
