title: Treatment of necrotizing fasciitis with quinolones.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of high dose quinolones therapy in patients with necrotizing fasciitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive analytical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The department of Plastic and reconstructive surgery, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, from January 2001 to March 2002.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty consecutive patients, diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, were treated with intravenous quinolones (400 mg 8 hourly). The response was evaluated in terms of subsidence of fever and C-reactive proteins levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Majority of the patients was male (60%). Lower limb involvement was most commonly involved (70%). The most common initiating cause was injection abscess (45%). Majority of the cultures showed polymicrobial infection (90%). The most common isolate was Streptococcus pyogenes (65%). Majority of the patients showed excellent response with intravenous quinolones (Ciprofloxacin) in high doses in 24-48 hours. Only two patients (10%) failed to respond to therapy due to severe infection and delay in seeking treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravenous quinolones (Ciprofloxacin) in high doses are effective in controlling necrotizing soft tissue infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Hayatabad Medical Complex, PGMI, Peshawar. atkhan@psh.paknet.com.pk
authors.forename: Amir Taimur
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.lastname: Tahmeedullah
authors.lastname: Obaidullah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015363:Quinolones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015363:Quinolones