Use of negative pressure wound therapy with instillation in the management of cervical necrotizing fasciitis.

Background: Cervical necrotizing fasciitis is an aggressive infection that can be rapidly fatal if aggressive therapies are not initiated early. Negative pressure wound therapy has been established as an effective tool in promoting wound healing, but its use in the acutely infected wound has been avoided because it limits frequent irrigations and standard dressing changes.

Methods: We discuss a novel application of negative pressure wound therapy with instillation in an immunocompromised patient with extensive cervical necrotizing fasciitis.