NEWS

First cases of Fournier’s gangrene reported in India

DETAILS

WHAT

• Also called necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum
• Infection of the genitals and area around the genitals among Type 2 diabetes patients using sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors
• Death of body tissue of the genitals and/or perineum

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS – genital pain, tenderness, redness, and swelling with a rapid progression to gangrene

OTHER DETAILS

• Although the condition can affect men and women of all ages, it is most commonly diagnosed in adult males
• Most cases of Fournier gangrene are caused by an infection in the genital area or urinary tract
• People with impaired immunity (i.e. due to diabetes or HIV) have an increased susceptibility to the condition
• Treatment generally includes surgery and medications such as antibiotics and/or antifungal therapy
• SGLT2 inhibitors and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are recommended as preferred add-on oral anti-diabetic drugs (OADs) after metformin among Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), heart failure (HF), and chronic kidney disease (CKD)