Primary prevention

Includes:

  • 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[5]​ 

  • Immunization against varicella zoster virus (in adults and children), that may prevent necrotizing 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 necrotizing fasciitis.

Chemoprophylaxis may be considered for close contacts of patients with invasive group A streptococcus disease including necrotizing fasciitis, especially if those contacts are at high-risk for invasive group A streptococcus disease, though it is not routinely recommended.[60]

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