Evaluation of Diagnostic Methods of Patients with Necrotizing Skin and Soft Tissue Infections (NSTI) and the Need for Hospitalization in the Intensive Care Unit

Necrotizing skin and soft tissue infections (NSTI) includes a wide range of infections that can develop in different anatomical locations or after breaking the integrity of the skin (or mucosa). In fact, necrotizing skin and soft tissue infections (NSTI) are infections of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and superficial fascia that cause necrosis in them. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic methods of patients with necrotizing skin and soft tissue infections (NSTI) and the need for hospitalization in the intensive care unit.The current literature is of a systematic review type and is from English articles extracted from foreign information banks (PubMed, Web of Science and SCOPUS) using the keywords care unit, critical care, critical illness, fasciitis, necrosis, Fournier's gangrene, gas gangrene, soft tissue infections, and skin or infectious diseases and other related keywords are used in the period of ۲۰۱۰-۲۰۲۳. Since the initial diagnosis of patients with NSTI is confusing and can be associated with the progress of the disease and may even kill the patient. Additional imaging in critical patients can be mentioned among the disease diagnosis methods. Also prompt surgery with aggressive debridement of necrotic tissue is required for source control and allows for microbiological sampling. Prompt administration of broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy has also been effective in some cases, but the role of immunoglobulins and hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of NSTI still needs further investigation. Overall knowledge of the treatment options within a multidisciplinary team-with special attention to the appropriate use of antimicrobial therapy and invasive treatment techniques for source control-is essential in the treatment of this complex disease.