Primary prevention

Measures to prevent the development of necrotising fasciitis include:

  • Prevention of trauma or breaking of skin integrity (that may constitute portals of entry for the infection)

  • Treatment of cellulitis to prevent extension into subcutaneous tissue[2]

  • Immunisation against varicella zoster virus (in adults and children). This may prevent necrotising fasciitis as a complication of skin breaks due to chickenpox or zoster.[33]​

Secondary prevention

Infection control practices should be in place in the hospital to prevent patient to patient spread of group A streptococcus in all patients, including those with type II necrotising fasciitis.

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