Amniotic membranes in the treatment of necrotizing fasciitis complicating vulvar herpes virus infection.

Necrotizing fasciitis of the vulva developed in an immunocompromised patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia, apparently from secondarily infected herpes simplex lesions. In addition to surgical debridements and broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotic therapy, the wound was treated using specially prepared amniotic membranes as a wound dressing. The patient died on hospital day 65 because of complications of her immunocompromised state, with autopsy findings of disseminated cytomegalovirus. However, use of amniotic membranes as a wound dressing appeared to be beneficial.