necrotizing fasciitis

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necrotizing fasciitis n. a life-threatening bacterial infection of the layer of fascia beneath the skin, usually by Streptococcus. Tissue necrosis and toxin production can result in shock and multi-organ failure. It is often associated with vascular disease, especially in diabetics, and the elderly and those who have recently undergone surgery are also vulnerable to the infection, which requires prompt treatment with intravenous antibiotics and excision of the involved tissue.

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