• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Necrotizing soft tissue infection

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

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.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.