Necrotizing upper limb fasciitis in a newborn: an uncommon life-threatening event.

Abstract

Necrotizing fasciitis is an uncommon but life-threatening infection in the pediatric population. It is rarely reported in neonates. In these rare cases, the reported origin of infection was the umbilical cord stump, infection due to circumcision, and similar lesions. We hereby report a 3-week-old neonate sustaining necrotizing fasciitis without detectable origin of infection. We describe the clinical course of her illness, the diagnostic process, and eventual surgical intervention. We discuss the importance of awareness to this potentially lethal infectious disease and the need for urgent use of certain imaging modalities and aggressive surgical approach.