Staphylococcal neonatal necrotising fasciitis: survival without radical debridement

Necrotising fasciitis is a serious infection associated with high morbidity and mortality. The conventional treatment is radical resection of the involved area with antibiotic as well as intensive supportive therapy. We describe a case of extensive truncal necrotising fasciitis in a neonate, secondary to Staphylococcus aureus infection successfully treated with intensive antibiotic therapy and multi-organ support, followed by fasciotomies, drainage and betadine irrigation. The successful outcome without radical resection could be due to the viability of superficial skin, S aureus as the causative organism and the excellent blood supply of cutaneous neonatal tissue.