RAPIDLY FATAL NECROTIZING FASCIITIS CAUSED BY STREPTOCOCCUS-PYOGENES

Aims-To describe the morbid anatomical and bacteriological features in a series of five cases of rapidly fatal Streptococcus pyogenes necrot ising fasciitis.Methods-Post mortem and bacteriological examinations w ere made of five patients dying within 48 hours from rapidly fatal nec rotising fasciitis. Results-All five cases died rapidly from a toxic S treptococcus toxin syndrome as a result of developing necrotising fasc iitis following trivial injury. Conclusions-Necrotising fasciitis caus ed by Streptococcus pyogenes infection can be rapidly fatal. This is p robably the result of a toxic shock syndrome. Rapid, early diagnosis a nd swift and probably empirical treatment is required to avoid a fatal outcome.