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Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection

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Ulcers of the Lower Extremity

Abstract

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) better called as necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) is infrequent but highly lethal infections. Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are fulminant infections of any layer of the soft tissue compartment associated with widespread necrosis and systemic toxicity. Delay in diagnosing and treating these infections increases the risk of mortality. Early and aggressive surgical debridement with support for the failing organs significantly improves the survival. These infections were first described by Jones in 1871, and at that time they were termed “hospital gangrene” [1]. According to Martin et al., necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is essentially a “severe inflammation of the muscle sheath that leads to necrosis of the subcutaneous tissue and adjacent fascia” that is difficult to diagnose early and even more difficult to manage effectively. Early clinical suspicion, appropriate antimicrobials, and surgery are key to improving survival. The problem is that it is difficult to diagnose as in one survey, the correct diagnosis was initially suspected in only 2 % of admissions [2, 3].

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India

    Ajay Kumar Khanna

  2. Senior Consultant, NSM Cooperative College, Kollam, Kerala, India

    Parameswaran Sundaran

  3. Department of Anatomy, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India

    Soumya Khanna

Authors
  1. Ajay Kumar Khanna
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  2. Parameswaran Sundaran
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  3. Soumya Khanna
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Correspondence to Ajay Kumar Khanna .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Banaras Hindu University, Institute of Medical Sciences, Varanasi, India

    Ajay K Khanna

  2. Banaras Hindu University, Institute of Medical Sciences, Varanasi, India

    Satyendra K Tiwary

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Khanna, A.K., Sundaran, P., Khanna, S. (2016). Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection. In: Khanna, A., Tiwary, S. (eds) Ulcers of the Lower Extremity. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2635-2_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2635-2_17

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  • Online ISBN: 978-81-322-2635-2

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