[Necrotizing fasciitis due to invasive group A streptococcal infection: a case report]

Necrotizing fasciitis is a relatively rare but potentially fatal soft tissue infection. We report a case of invasive group A streptococcal necrotizing fasciitis. Patient was a 55-year-old healthy male who presented an expanding suppurative lesion over the left lower extremity within one day. Streptococcus pyogenes was a sole microorganism isolated from the infection site. The key to successful treatment in this case was suggested to be early diagnosis combined with aggressive debridement followed by open drainage and high dose administrations of piperacillin before complications such as liver dysfunction and renal failure became serious.