Journal of Clinical Toxicology
Open Access

Bradley Ahrens

Publications

• Research Article
  Bacterial Etiology of Necrotic Arachnidism in Black Widow Spider Bites
  Author(s): Bradley Ahrens and Carlos CrockerBradley Ahrens and Carlos Crocker
  
  Spider bites are a common challenge for physicians and veterinarians worldwide. Envenomation by the Western Black Widow (Latrodectus hesperus) is frequently associated with a necrotic cutaneous reaction at the bite site; a condition known as necrotic arachnidism. Although the composition of venom is known to be almost entirely neurotoxic, and thus, presumably not damaging to skin, varying degrees of dermal necrosis are commonly encountered at the site of envenomation. The underlying mechanism is unknown, prompting our investigation of the possibility for a bacterial etiology of the local lesions associated with the bite. This descriptive study reports the presence of 5 uncommon, highly pathogenic; multiple antibiotic resistant, bacterial species cultured from 220 pairs of sterilely extracted black widow spider fangs. This finding is consistent with the known unresponsiveness of cuta.. View More»
  DOI: 10.4172/2161-0495.1000106

  Abstract PDF

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