What Researchers Did
Researchers retrospectively reviewed the clinical course of group A Streptococcus necrotizing fasciitis complicating primary varicella in 14 children at a single center over an 18-month period.
What They Found
Fourteen children aged 6 months to 10 years were treated for group A Streptococcus necrotizing fasciitis, with 8 patients experiencing a delay in initial diagnosis. All 14 patients were discharged home with good function and no long-term sequelae, following surgical exploration, debridement, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy in 12 patients.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted at a children's hospital in Seattle, WA.
Study Limitations
A limitation of this study is its retrospective design, small sample size of 14 patients, and single-center nature.