Information For Health Professionals on Necrotizing Fasciitis

All cases of Group A Streptococcus that result in necrotizing fasciitis are reportable to the Minnesota Department of Health.

• Reporting Streptococcal Disease
  All invasive streptococcal disease caused by group A streptococci must be reported to MDH within one working day.

It may be difficult to distinguish between standard antimicrobial susceptible cellulitis and necrotizing fasciitis. Clinicians should consult with surgery, infectious disease or both per your facility's guidelines for any case presenting with symptoms suspicious of necrotizing fasciitis.

• IDSA: Guidelines for Skin and Soft-Tissue Infections (PDF)
  IDSA Guidelines. For information pertaining specifically to necrotizing fasciitis go to pp. 1382-1385 (page 10 of the document).

References:

1. Pasternack, M. S. (2010). Cellulitis, Necrotizing Fasciitis, and Subcutaneous Tissue Infections. In Mandell, G. L. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases (7th Ed., pp. 1289-1312). Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.
2. CDC: "Necrotizing Fasciitis: All You Need to Know." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
3. CDC: “Group A Streptococcal (GAS) Disease.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
4. Stevens, D.L. (2005). Guidelines for Skin and Soft-Tissue Infections. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 41, 1373-1406. Accessed 7/15/2013 from IDSA: Guidelines for Skin and Soft-Tissue Infections (PDF)