[Strategies of management of necrotizing soft tissue infections]

Necrotizing soft tissue infections represent a group of rapidly progressive diseases requiring early and repeated debridement, associated with broad spectrum antibiotics. Delay in surgery or inadequate therapy are the main risk factors for death. Most patients need aggressive critical care management and intensive nutritional support. The management of these patients by experimented senior surgeons is mandatory. A plastic surgeon can help debridement in order to preserve possibilities of later myocutaneous or rotational skin flaps. Intravenous immunoglobulins are an efficacious adjunctive therapy for severe group A streptococcal infection.