Necrotizing fasciitis and gangrene associated with topical herbs in an infant.

A 4-mo-old Chinese infant developed necrotizing fasciitis and gangrene from a small skin infection on his buttock that was treated with topical herbs. Sequential cultures revealed a number of organisms: Enterococcus species, sensitive to ampicillin, were isolated throughout the course, and coagulasenegative staphylococci replaced gram-negative rods during the later phase of the illness. The infant required prolonged intravenous antibiotic treatment and underwent multiple surgical procedures for debridement and reconstruction.