[Clinical evaluation and treatment results of 30 patients with necrotizing fasciitis].
BACKGROUND
We retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent treatment for necrotizing fasciitis within a five-year period.


METHODS
Thirty patients (4 females, 26 males; mean age 55 years; range 19 to 78 years) with necrotizing fasciitis were evaluated with respect to age, sex, etiology, predisposing factors, localization of infections, culture results, and treatment methods and results.


RESULTS
The most common etiologic and predisposing factors were anorectal lesions (36.7%) and diabetes (53.3%), respectively. Wound cultures yielded Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 50% of the patients. Two strains of aerobic bacteria were isolated in three patients. All patients underwent extensive surgical debridement and received antibiotic therapy. Twenty-nine patients (96.6%) required more than one debridement, with a mean of 4.5 debridements. The ensuing skin defects following debridement were reconstructed with grafts or local flaps. No complications were encountered in the postoperative period.


CONCLUSIONS
Early diagnosis and treatment result in decreased morbidity and prevent mortality in necrotizing fasciitis.
Ozgenel
Güzin Yeşim
GY
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medicine Faculty of Uludağ University, Bursa, Turkey. gozgenel@yahoo.com
Akin
Selçuk
S
Kahveci
Ramazan
R
Ozbek
Serhat
S
Ozcan
Mesut
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003646:Debridement; D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents