Necrotizing Fasciitis Treatment
The key to effective treatment is timeliness and early detection. What many athletes may brush off as a simple rash or irritation may prove to be much more serious. In the majority of cases, this disease is not serious and will resolve with cleaning, bandaging, and proper wound care. In more serious cases, treatment steps may include:
- Diagnostic testing, such as x-rays, CT scans, or MRI
- Intravenous antibiotics
- Surgery to remove dead tissue
- Special antibody medicines to help fight infection
- 100 percent oxygen at high pressure
- Skin grafts after infection subsides
- Amputation to decrease spread
If left untreated and ignored, necrotizing fasciitis can lead to several serious complications, and even death. However, with the right precautions and considerations, athletes can help decrease the risk of contracting skins and flesh infections, and stay safe in the great outdoors.
If you suspect any type of skin-related bacterial infection, please contact your family physician or a dermatologist for proper diagnosis and treatment. Or call 911 if your case is an emergency.