Biopsy diagnosis of surgical infections.

A favorable outcome of necrotizing subcutaneous infections and other invasive soft-tissue infections that spread rapidly is dependent on early diagnosis followed by prompt surgical intervention to debride necrotic and infected tissue and prevent further extension and systemic spread of the septic process. In the early stages of many invasive infections originating in surface wounds, local signs are initially minimal and become more prominent as the disease progresses. Deep tissue pain with focal surface hypoesthesia and ecchymotic changes of intact skin overlying the infected tissue (considered to be characteristic of necrotizing fasciitis) indicate neural and vascular involvement, respectively, and signify the . . .