Abstract
Hand infections represent common medical and surgical challenges that endanger delicate
structures with severe consequences if not promptly addressed. Early identification
and management are essential to achieve optimal outcomes. To the best of our knowledge
this is the first reported case caused by Streptococcus constellatus, in which a severe periungueal infection evolved rapidly with septic thrombosis of
digital vessels and culminated in amputation. This microorganism belongs to a group
of commensal bacteria, Streptococcus milleri, that causes dental, peritonsillar and sinus abscesses. When bacteriemia outbursts,
distant abscesses may form or endocarditis may ensue. A missed diagnosis and treatment
can induce important morbidities, often delayed by the difficult isolation of the
agent in the laboratory and its complex mechanisms of antibacterial resistance. This
article focus on the importance of identifying serious hand infections requiring urgent
or emergent treatment, since delayed or inadequate identification and management can
lead to important and permanent deficits.
Keywords
hand infection - streptococcus - streptococcus constellatus - milleri
