Necrotizing fasciitis.

Two patients had limited necrotizing fascilitis. The morbidity and mortality from this infectious necrotizing process of the superficial fascia have not changed significantly since its initial description in 1924. The characteristic clinical findings of necrotizing fascilitis makes early recognition possible. Within 24 to 48 hours, redness, pain, and edema rapidly progress to central patches of dusky blue discoloration, with or without serosanguineous blisters. By the fourth or fifth day, these purple areas become gangrenous. Although necrotizing fascilities originally was associated exclusively with beta-hemolytic Streptococcus, recent cases have shown a variety of bacteria. The essential treatment remains wide local surgical débridement.