Gangrene

Patients with gangrene can be severely ill. Close monitoring and frequent review, often in a high dependency or intensive care environment, are necessary to optimise treatment and monitor for lack of response to therapy, which can occur from antibiotic resistance of the bacteria or be due to the need for more extensive debridement. Furthermore, monitoring for decline in respiratory and/or haemodynamic function is essential, with consideration of possible toxic shock in patients with group A streptococcal infection.