The management of dermal necrosis after acute Neisseria infection

Although the occurrence of dermal necrosis following Neisseria meningitidis is rare, it portends a grave prognosis with a high mortality rate. A child having this complication is described who sustained a loss of over 30% of the body skin surface. She was successfully treated with aggressive nutritional support, meshed split-thickness skin grafting, and early rehabilitation. The pathophysiology of this complication is discussed, along with principles that are important in the day-to-day management of the patient.