Necrotizing soft tissue infections

Abstract

Necrotizing soft tissue infection is a rare disorder in general and even more so in children. Nevertheless, these infections can rapidly advance and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. They can occur in otherwise healthy patients after a relatively innocuous incident leading to a break in the epidermal barrier. The infection often travels deep within the soft tissues without obvious superficial signs, leading to a delay in diagnosis. Surgical intervention remains the only definitive treatment. Extensive tissue loss can result in an attempt to gain control of the infection. If diagnosis is delayed, multisystem organ failure and death can result. The pediatric surgeon should be able to recognize the clinical findings that heighten awareness of a necrotizing infection and have a firm understanding of the appropriate evaluation and management of this rapidly progressive, debilitating, and often lethal disease process.