Summary

Necrotizing fasciitis is an uncommom soft tissue infection, usually caused by toxin-producing, virulent bacteria, which is characterized by widespread fascial and subcutaneous necrosis with relative sparing of skin and underlying muscle. It is often associed with severe systemic toxicity and is usually rapidly fatal unless promptly recognised and aggressively treated. Specific measures include surgical debridement, antibiotic therapy and adequate support cares with intravenous fluids adminis-tration and hemodynamic monitoring.