More than meets the eye: a rapidly progressive skin infection in a football player.

Fournier gangrene (FG) is a rare polymicrobial infection of perineum that carries a high mortality rate. Survival depends on rapid identification of the infection with early and extensive debridement of necrotic tissue. We present a case of an otherwise healthy American football offensive lineman who was initially hospitalized for gluteal abscess and advancing cellulitis. The patient was discovered to have FG during intraoperative debridement of the abscess and was subsequently treated with several weeks of broad-spectrum antibiotics. This case highlights the importance that team physicians play in the identification and appropriate management of potentially life-threatening infections.