Affiliations: Department of Pediatrics, Kasturba Medical College,
Mangalore, India
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Kamalakshi G. Bhat, Associate Professor,
Department of Pediatrics, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, PIN – 575001,
Karnataka, India. Tel.: +824 2445858; Fax: +824 2428379; E-mail:
bhat_kamalakshi@yahoo.co.in
Abstract: Necrotizing fasciitis is a bacterial infection of the soft tissues
with a fulminant course and a high mortality rate. It is rare in children and
early recognition with aggressive treatment can help in improving the survival
in these cases. During the study period 12 children with mean age of 35 months
developed necrotizing fasciitis. Common initiating factors observed were
varicella infection and minor injury. The trunk was the most common site of
involvement. Tissue culture was positive in 10 cases, of which three were
polymicrobial. Blood cultures were positive in three cases. Staphylococcus
aureus was the most common pathogen. All the cases were treated with
parenteral antibiotics and 10 cases required surgical intervention.
Complications included thrombocytopenia, shock, acute renal failure,
septicemia, disseminated intravascular coagulation and multiorgan failure. Two
patients died (mortality rate 16.7%). Early diagnosis and aggressive
treatment in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit may have contributed to decreased
mortality compared with earlier studies.
Keywords: Necrotizing fasciitis, Staphylococcus aureus, children
