[Streptococcal gangrene. Importance of surgical treatment]

The authors report five cases of streptococcal gangrene and stress the fundamental role of surgical excision. Parenteral anti-streptococcal antibiotics should not lead to this essential step being forgotten, its early application being the most important element in prognosis. It is thus essential to clearly understand the local and general criteria of rapid diagnosis in this condition, which is far from rare.