Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Lower Limb Following Rat Bites

Abstract

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare life-threatening condition characterized by rapidly spreading infection in the subcutaneous tissues. Most of the time, the infection is precipitated by an event that produces a break in the epidermis. The authors report the case of a 55-year-old farmer who developed a necrotizing fasciitis of the left lower limb following a rat bite. The patient had serial debridement of his wound and broad-spectrum antibiotics and subsequent partial thickness skin grafting. His total duration of admission was 93 days. Early diagnosis, an aggressive wound debridement, and broad-spectrum antibiotics form the backbone of the successful management of this case.