Necrotizing soft tissue infection

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum - abdomen

Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum - leg

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Necrotizing soft tissue infection

Alternative Names:

Necrotizing fasciitis; Fasciitis - necrotizing; Flesh-eating bacteria; Soft tissue gangrene; Gangrene - soft-tissue

Treatment:

Powerful, broad-spectrum antibiotics must be given immediately through a vein (IV). This is an attempt to control the infection by quickly raising the blood levels of the antibiotic. Surgery is required to open and drain infected areas and remove dead tissue.

Skin grafts may be required after the infection is cleared. If the infection is in a limb and cannot be contained or controlled, amputation of the limb may be considered. Sometimes pooled immunoglobulins (antibodies) are given by vein to help fight the infection.

If the organism is determined to be an oxygen-avoiding bacteria (anaerobe), the patient may be placed in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, a device in which the patient is given 100% oxygen at several atmospheres of pressure.

Expectations (prognosis):

Outcomes are variable. The type of infecting organism, rate of spread, susceptibility to antibiotics, and the timing of diagnosis all contribute to the final outcome.

Scarring and deformity are common with this type of disease. Fatalities are high even with aggressive treatment and powerful antibiotics. Untreated, the infection invariably spreads and causes death.

Complications:

Local spread of infection, progressive tissue damage
Systemic spread of infection, sepsis, shock
Scarring and disfigurement
Functional loss of a limb
Death

Calling your health care provider:

This disorder is severe and may be life-threatening, so consult your health care provider immediately.

Call your health care provider if signs of infection occur around a skin injury: pain, swelling, redness, drainage of pus or blood, fever, or other similar symptoms.

Review Date: 11/9/2005
Reviewed By: Kenneth Wener, M.D., Division of Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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