Rapidly fatal necrotizing fasciitis after aesthetic liposuction

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rapidly progressive soft tissue infection involving primarily the superficial fascia and subcutaneous tissue. The disease is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes or synergistic infection of anaerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria. Further characteristics are severe, intolerable pain and a mortality rate of 30 to 50%. The NF can be initiated after surgical procedures, minor trauma, trivial scratches, in the setting of a chronic wound, or even in apparently intact skin. The age of the patient is not relevant for the prognosis of NF. As it is shown in this reported case, a young and previously healthy patient died after aesthetic liposuction in the course of a NF. Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare disease, therefore, it is important to review its diagnostic and clinical features, because only early diagnosis and prompt, radical surgery improves the survival rate.