Objective criteria may assist in distinguishing necrotizing fasciitis from nonnecrotizing soft tissue infection

Discussion Jeffrey R. Saffle, MD (Salt Lake City, Utah): I congratulate Dr. Wall and his colleagues for having the bravery to take on one of the nemesis diseases, both of the general surgeon and of the academic medical center. [...]none of the abnormalities you described has sufficient sensitivity and specificity either to compel surgery in otherwise benign-appearing cases or to justify complacency. [...]although many surgeons have been fooled by early fasciitis, your group apparently was not fooled, at least to hear you tell it.