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Book

Necrotizing Fasciitis

Heather A. Wallace  1 , Thomas B. Perera  2
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.
.
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Book

Necrotizing Fasciitis

Heather A. Wallace et al.
Free Books & Documents

Excerpt

Necrotizing fasciitis is a subset of aggressive skin and soft tissue infections that cause muscle fascia and subcutaneous tissue necrosis. This infection typically travels along the fascial plane, which has a poor blood supply, leaving the overlying tissues initially unaffected, potentially delaying diagnosis and surgical intervention. The infectious process can rapidly spread, causing infection of the fascia and peri-fascial planes and causing a secondary infection of the overlying and underlying skin, soft tissue, and muscle.[2] Necrotizing fasciitis can occur post-surgery, invasive procedures, or even a minor procedure like phlebotomy. The causative bacteria are usually mixed but do produce gas. See Image. Necrotizing Fasciitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Heather Wallace declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Thomas Perera declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

References

    1. Kim YH, Ha JH, Kim JT, Kim SW. Managing necrotising fasciitis to reduce mortality and increase limb salvage. J Wound Care. 2018 Sep 01;27(Sup9a):S20-S27. - PubMed
    1. Lange JH, Cegolon L. Comment on: Early clinical manifestations of vibrio necrotising fasciitis. Singapore Med J. 2018 Aug;59(8):449. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Heijkoop B, Parker N, Spernat D. Fournier's gangrene: not as lethal as previously thought? A case series. ANZ J Surg. 2019 Apr;89(4):350-352. - PubMed
    1. Erichsen Andersson A, Egerod I, Knudsen VE, Fagerdahl AM. Signs, symptoms and diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis experienced by survivors and family: a qualitative Nordic multi-center study. BMC Infect Dis. 2018 Aug 28;18(1):429. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Khalid M, Junejo S, Mir F. Invasive Community Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcal Aureus (CA-MRSA) Infections in Children. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2018 Sep;28(9):S174-S177. - PubMed

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