Necrotizing fasciitis, commonly known as “flesh-eating disease,” is one of the most aggressive and life-threatening bacterial infections known to medicine. It spreads rapidly along the fascia—the connective tissue surrounding muscles, nerves, and blood vessels—destroying skin, muscle, and soft tissue in its path. Immediate surgical intervention and broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics are essential for survival. Yet, even after life-saving surgery, many patients face severe tissue loss, prolonged hospitalizations, and slow or incomplete healing.

At Ejere Wound Care & Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, we employ Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) as an adjunctive treatment to aid recovery following surgical management of necrotizing fasciitis. This advanced therapy helps oxygenate tissues that have been deprived of adequate blood supply, stimulates new blood vessel growth, enhances immune function, and accelerates wound healing.

How HBOT Works in Necrotizing Fasciitis

During HBOT, patients breathe 100% oxygen at increased atmospheric pressure inside a specially designed chamber. This environment allows oxygen to dissolve directly into the plasma—beyond what red blood cells can carry—resulting in dramatically higher tissue oxygen levels.

In necrotizing fasciitis, where infection and surgical debridement often leave areas of compromised circulation, this extra oxygen can mean the difference between recovery and further tissue loss. HBOT works on multiple fronts:

• Stops bacterial growth: Many bacteria that cause necrotizing fasciitis, such as Clostridium and Streptococcus, are anaerobic—meaning they cannot thrive in oxygen-rich environments.
• Boosts immune response: White blood cells (leukocytes) require oxygen to produce reactive oxygen species that destroy bacteria. HBOT enhances this function dramatically.
• Promotes angiogenesis: HBOT stimulates new capillary formation (angiogenesis), improving long-term blood flow to the affected area.
• Reduces swelling and inflammation: High oxygen pressure helps constrict blood vessels temporarily, reducing edema while still increasing oxygen delivery.
• Supports collagen synthesis: Oxygen is essential for fibroblast activity and collagen production, which are critical for wound closure.

Clinical Benefits and Evidence

Multiple studies have demonstrated that HBOT significantly improves survival and recovery in patients with necrotizing fasciitis when used alongside surgery and antibiotics. According to research published in The Journal of the American College of Surgeons (2019), adjunctive HBOT was associated with a lower mortality rate (11% vs. 23%) and fewer major amputations compared to standard care alone.

Similarly, the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) recognizes necrotizing fasciitis as an accepted indication for HBOT, noting that early and aggressive treatment can halt the spread of infection, preserve vital tissue, and enhance wound healing outcomes.

Our Approach at Ejere Wound Care & Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Once a patient is stabilized and discharged from the hospital following emergency surgery, our clinic provides comprehensive wound management with HBOT as a key component. Typically, patients undergo 20 to 30 HBOT sessions, each lasting about 90 minutes. The therapy is comfortable, non-invasive, and carefully monitored by our medical team.

By the tenth session, many patients begin to notice remarkable changes—improved tissue color, decreased pain, and better overall healing. By the end of the treatment series, most patients achieve substantial wound closure, reduced scarring, and restored function.

A Life-Saving Partnership Between Surgery, Antibiotics, and Oxygen

While surgery and antibiotics remain the cornerstones of treating necrotizing fasciitis, HBOT provides the essential oxygen boost needed for the body to repair itself. By enhancing oxygen delivery at the cellular level, HBOT transforms a once devastating diagnosis into a manageable, recoverable condition.

As one of our patients described, “After surgery, I didn’t think my leg would ever heal—but with the hyperbaric treatments, I watched the wound close and my strength return week after week.” This powerful testimony underscores the regenerative potential of oxygen.

The Science of Oxygen: Why It Matters

Normal oxygen delivery through the bloodstream is often insufficient in infected or surgically compromised tissues. Under hyperbaric conditions, oxygen tension in tissues can rise by more than 1,000%, creating an environment hostile to bacteria and conducive to rapid regeneration.

HBOT not only improves tissue oxygenation but also triggers the release of growth factors and stem cells—both vital to healing complex wounds.

References

1. Riseman JA, Zamboni WA, Curtis A, et al. "Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for necrotizing fasciitis reduces mortality and the need for debridements." Surgery. 1990;108(5):847–850.
2. Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS). "Indications for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy." Updated 2023.
3. Huang KC, et al. "Adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves survival in necrotizing fasciitis." J Am Coll Surg. 2019;229(6):e117–e125.

Encouragement for Patients and Families

Facing necrotizing fasciitis is an overwhelming experience—but recovery is possible with the right care plan. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy offers renewed hope by giving the body what it needs most—oxygen—to fight infection, repair tissue, and restore vitality.

At Ejere Wound Care & Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, our mission is to support patients on every step of that journey. Through advanced treatment protocols and compassionate care, we help patients rebuild their lives after one of the most serious infections imaginable.

To learn more about HBOT and whether it may benefit your recovery, visit https://ejerewoundcare.com/ or schedule a consultation today.