Abstract
Necrotizing soft tissue infections have been known for millennia and continue to impose a significant burden on both patients and society in terms of morbidity, mortality and resource allocation. While it was once categorized as a rare disease, its incidence has been increasing in recent years, especially in patients with diabetes mellitus. The manifestation of the disease can vary from a lightning-like manifestation to barely noticeable and insidious development. A significant proportion are patients with late complications of surgical infections of soft tissues, the treatment of which presents certain difficulties. The basic principles of diagnosis, rapid and broad antimicrobial therapy, and aggressive sanitation have remained unchanged, but the increasing incidence suggests that new diagnostic and treatment methods are needed to combat this deadly disease. This review highlights the basic principles of diagnosis and management of necrotizing soft tissue infections. The review provides the historical context, etiology, pathogenesis and diagnosis of the disease, emphasizing the problem of early diagnosis.