Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for NECROTIZING SOFT TISSUE INFECTIONS

NECROTIZING SOFT TISSUE INFECTIONS

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) treatment is to be used as an adjunct to surgical and antibiotic treatment. Necrotizing mixed flora (aerobic and anaerobic) infections usually occur in traumatic or surgical wounds around foreign bodies and affect patients who are medically compromised by either diabetes millitus, vascular insufficiency, or both. Facultative gram negative bacteria and endogenous anaerobic organisms are the flora often included in necrotizing infections.

RATIONALE: Hypoxic conditions profoundly impair polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocyte function and as infection develops metabolism by facultative organisms further depletes the oxygen that is available. This action as well as accumulation of metabolic products improves conditions for the growth of anaerobic bacteria. Surgical debridement and systemic antibiotics are the principal treatment protocol for necrotizing soft tissue infections.

The oxygen tension in infected tissue is low. Increasing tissue oxygen tensions enhances white cell killing of bacteria, promotes inhibition of anaerobic organism growth and increases the oxidation-reduction potential. The high mortality and morbidity associated with these conditions warrant the addition of adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) therapy.

Source: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: A Committee Report. Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society. 1996 Revision.

Approved Indications

Chico Hyperbaric Center
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