title: [Clinical evaluation and treatment results of 30 patients with necrotizing fasciitis].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medicine Faculty of Uludağ University, Bursa, Turkey. gozgenel@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Güzin Yeşim
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Ozgenel
authors.forename: Selçuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akin
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kahveci
authors.forename: Serhat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozbek
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozcan
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents