Necrotizing fasciitis complicating intravenous drug abuse

Two cases of necrotizing fasciitis in intravenous cocaine abusers are presented to alert the medical community to the possibility of these severe infections in such addicts. Antimicrobial therapy should include agents effective against Bacteroides species, streptococci, and Gram-negative aerobes; therapy directed only against staphylococci and Gram-negative aerobes is not sufficient.