Necrotizing fasciitis--the importance of early diagnosis and debridement.

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection of the skin, deep subcutaneous tissue, and fascia. Early symptoms may be misdiagnosed as cellulitis. A hallmark symptom that distinguishes NF from cellulitis is severe local pain that is out of proportion to the size and type of the wound present. Early diagnosis and treatment of NF is imperative for a patient's survival. This article describes the pathophysiologic mechanisms, clinical manifestations, and treatment of NF, as well as implications for perioperative nursing.