Necrotizing fasciitis

When necrotizing fasciitis (Latin Necrotizing fasciitis ) is triggered by bacteria, very violent ( fulminant ) infectious disease of the skin and fascia. Affected are often patients with diabetes mellitus or other diseases that lead to circulatory disorders ( smoker's leg ) or decreased body defenses. The incidence of the disease is 0.4 / 100 000

The portal of entry for pathogens may be the smallest skin injury. Early 2005 have become known in which the disease was caused by antibiotic-resistant staph cases first.

Necrotizing fasciitis begins with nonspecific symptoms such as severe local pain and fever. Within a short time the affected area to swell, become hot, red and blister. Later it can be in these areas to a complete death (necrosis ) of the skin (cutis), subcutaneous tissue (subcutis ) and get the muscle fascia. The infected tissue must as soon as possible - even before the detection of pathogens - are completely removed surgically, otherwise the disease could result in a short time to extensive skin loss and death.

A special form is the Fournier gangrene as a feverish gangrene of the groin and genital area, which occurs mainly in men. In newborns, a Omphalitis often goes over into a necrotizing fasciitis of the umbilical region.