Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections

Necrotizing Soft Tissue InfectionsNecrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are serious, life-threatening infections of the soft tissues.Soft tissues are the skin, its layers, and the muscle underneath.These infections are associated with cellulitis, an inflammation of the superficial layers of the skin (dermis and epidermis) or myositis, in which the muscle is inflamed.Sometimes the thin white layer covering the muscle is involved, a condition called fasciitis.When the tissues die, it is referred to as necrotizing.Necrotizing fasciitis is a type of NSTI that is caused by several different types of bacteria and is particularly dangerous.An NSTI is an infection that can start in one location and spread to large areas of the body within just a few hours.Conditions that increase the risk of these infections include an untreated perirectal abscess, trauma resulting in skin cuts, any weakness in the immune system, diabetes, cancer, smoking, autoimmune diseases, and obesity.However, young and healthy people with no other medical problems can get NSTIs.