This study evaluated a PCR assay for detection of the streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B (speB) gene from tissue biopsy specimens of patients with necrotizing fasciitis. speB was detected in specimens from all 10 patients with necrotizing fasciitis due to group A streptococcus. The assay was negative for all 11 patients without culture or serologic evidence of streptococcal infection. These res...

Necrotizing fasciitis is a soft tissue infection characterized by necrosis of fascia and subcutaneous tissue. It frequently involves the groin, abdomen and lower extremities, but rarely involves the head and neck region. An unusual occurrence of periorbital necrotizing fasciitis after a routine endoscopic sinus surgery in a 57-year-old woman with a history of type II diabetes mellitus is presen...

Necrotizing fasciitis is a severe, life-threatening soft tissue infection that results in rapid and progressive destruction of the superficial fascia and subcutaneous tissue. Because of its varied clinical presentation and bacteriological make-up, it has been labelled with many other names such as acute streptococcal gangrene, gangrenous erysipelas, necrotizing erysipelas, hospital gangrene, an...

Varicella is a nearly ubiquitous acquired childhood disease. Infectious complications of varicella can be life- or limb-threatening. These complications appear 3 to 4 days after the appearance of varicella exanthem and are heralded by fever, pain, and erythema of the overlying skin. Airway complications of varicella are rare, rapidly evolving, and, unfortunately, difficult to visualize. We repo...

Necrotizing fasciitis is a fulminant infection that affects the deep and superficial fascia while initially sparing the overlying skin and underlying muscle. The involvement of the cervical compartment is associated with a high morbidity and mortality rate. Immunocompromised patients are prone to this infection. We present a case of a 80 year-old diabetic woman suffering from streptococcal cerv...

Necrotizing fasciitis is a severe soft tissue infection characterized by rapidly progressing necrosis, involving subcutaneous tissues. This rare condition carries high mortality rate and require prompt diagnosis and urgent treatment with radical debridement and antibiotics. We describe a case of 21-year old man who presented with the history of trivial injury to the knee. Initially he was admit...

In this article, we present two cases of femoral pseudoaneurysm (PA) at the femoral arterial puncture site followed by necrotizing fasciitis, which is rare but can be fatal when not managed appropriately. PA was revealed by lower-extremity angiography and color-flow Doppler ultrasonography. Hematoma removal, thrombolysis, and bleeder ligation with Gelfoam were repeatedly performed by a vascular...

Casts may be associated with, and mask, serious life-threatening complications, including infection, compartment syndrome, and deep vein thrombosis with or without pulmonary embolism. A 43-year-old woman had necrotizing fasciitis associated with a closed-reduction casting of a tibial fracture. Her treatment highlights the importance of removing a cast and assessing the skin and tissue underneat...

Necrotizing fasciitis is an uncommon but a potentially fatal condition and can affect any part of the body. Most patients have pre-existing conditions that render them susceptible to infection, although etiology is unclear. Diagnosis is primarily clinical and is often delayed because of the unfamiliarity of the condition among clinicians. Management consists of immediate resuscitation, early su...