Serratia marcescens causing cervical necrotizing oropharyngitis

SummaryNecrotizing fasciitis is a rare, life-threatening infection. We report a case of necrotizing oropharyngitis caused by Serratia marcescens in a previously immunocompetent 6-year-old male. This necrotizing infection led to a near-total defect of the oropharynx. The wound was managed with daily wound debridement of the patient’s oropharynx with 3% hydrogen peroxide, carotid artery coverage with Kaltostat™, and pharyngeal packing with iodoform ribbon gauze. Our patient’s resultant nasopharyngeal and hypopharyngeal stenoses present challenges for restoration of form and function for voicing and deglutition. We present our experience of managing this child’s hypopharyngeal stenosis with a minimally invasive double-balloon dilatation technique.