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Vascular Surgery3 papers

Cutaneous streptococcal ulcer

Last edited: 4/15/2026

Overview

Cutaneous streptococcal ulcers are deep skin lesions often caused by group A Streptococcus, characterized by localized tissue necrosis and delayed healing despite conventional treatments 1.

Diagnosis

  • Clinical presentation includes necrotic tissue, pain, and signs of infection 1.
  • Cultures may identify group A Streptococcus 1.
  • Imaging (e.g., ultrasound) can assess depth and extent of ulceration 1.
  • Management

  • First-line treatments: Conventional wound care including debridement 1.
  • Adjunctive treatments: Use of Debrisan (dextranomer) for debridement in resistant cases 1.
  • - Dextranomer beads (Debrisan) applied as per protocol demonstrated rapid healing 1.

    Special Populations

  • No specific data provided for pregnancy, pediatrics, elderly, or comorbidities in the given abstracts 1.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Consider the use of Debrisan (dextranomer) for rapid healing in cutaneous ulcers resistant to conventional therapy (Evidence: Moderate) 1.
  • Prioritize regular debridement and standard wound care practices alongside adjunctive agents like dextranomer beads 1.
  • Further clinical trials are needed to establish broader applicability across special populations (Evidence: Expert opinion) 1.
  • References

    1 Sawyer PN, Dowbak G, Sophie Z, Feller J, Cohen L. A preliminary report of the efficacy of Debrisan (dextranomer) in the debridement of cutaneous ulcers. Surgery 1979. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      A preliminary report of the efficacy of Debrisan (dextranomer) in the debridement of cutaneous ulcers.Sawyer PN, Dowbak G, Sophie Z, Feller J, Cohen L Surgery (1979)

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