Necrotizing soft tissue infections

Background

• Includes necrotizing forms of cellulitis, myositis, and fasciitis
• Two types:
  • Type 1: polymicrobial infection
  • Type 2: group A strep
    • May occur in healthy individuals
    • May occur via hematogenous spread from throat to site of blunt trauma

Specific Types

• Necrotizing Fasciitis
• Necrotizing Myositis
• Necrotizing Cellulitis

Differential Diagnosis

Skin and Soft Tissue Infection

• Cellulitis
  • Hand cellulitis
  • Facial cellulitis
  • Orbital cellulitis
• Erysipelas
• Lymphangitis
• Folliculitis
• Hidradenitis suppurativa
• Skin abscess
  • Anorectal abscess
  • Bartholin gland abscess
  • Pilonidal abscess
  • Scrotal abscess
• Necrotizing soft tissue infections
  • Necrotizing fasciitis
  • Necrotizing myositis
  • Necrotizing cellulitis
  • Fournier's gangrene
• Mycobacterium marinum

Look-A-Likes

• Sporotrichosis
• Osteomyelitis
• Deep venous thrombosis
• Pyomyositis
• Purple glove syndrome
• Tuberculosis (tuberculous inflammation of the skin)

Source

• UpToDate