Necrotizing fasciitis. A report of five patients.

Five patients with necrotizing fasciitis are reported. Streptococci were isolated in all but one patient, in whom Staphylococcus albus was responsible. Other organisms were also isolated in culture. Surgical debridement and skin grafting were needed in all our patients, in addition to systemic antibiotics and topical treatment, comprising Eusol paraffin soaks. One patient developed this condition after a skin biopsy; another had chronic venous leg ulcer. There was no predisposing cause in the remaining three patients.