'Potato peel dressing': a novel adjunctive in the management of necrotizing fasciitis

Management of necrotizing fasciitis, a rare and potentially fatal, polymicrobial disease comprises of aggressive debridement, intravenous antibiotics and application of various adjunctives. So far adjunctives like hyperbaric oxygen therapy, intravenous immunoglobulins, vacuum assisted or foam dressing, and guided tissue regeneration with amniotic dressing have been put to use. Each of these adjunctives has faced criticism for their shortcomings. Potato peel has been used as a dressing for chronic wounds but there is no literature available on its application over wounds afflicted with necrotizing fasciitis. Owing to various medicinal properties of potato peel and its use as a dressing in other medical conditions, same was used as an adjunctive in the present case. Here we present a case of cervical necrotizing fasciitis of dentogenous origin, treated by mainstay surgical treatment with debridement, drainage in combination with broad spectrum antibiotics and a novel adjunctive, 'potato peel dressing', which has shown promising results.