Necrotizing fasciitis: a case study.

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a disease characterized by the destruction of the skin, subcutaneous fat, and fascia, with or without inflammation of the muscle tissue. NF carries a mortality rate in excess of 50 percent in neonates. Rapid diagnosis and initiation of antibiotics, along with meticulous nursing care, can provide an acceptable outcome for the neonate. This article reviews the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of NF; presents a case study; and provides a nursing care plan that supports treatment of this disease process.