Necrotizing fasciitis as a complication of tube thoracostomy.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a serious, rapidly progressive infection of subcutaneous tissue and fascia, most often related to trauma or surgery. We report a case of necrotizing fasciitis which occurred as a complication of tube thoracostomy. Physicians performing tube thoracostomy should be aware of this potential complication, since definitive treatment requires not only antibiotic therapy, but also surgical debridement.