Bacterial infections: necrotising fasciitis: practice question

A Dermatology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Dermatology · Bacterial infections: necrotising fasciitis

Sample item

A diabetic woman has a rapidly spreading red leg with pain out of proportion, dusky skin, bullae and fever with hypotension. What is the most important immediate step?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Urgent surgical exploration and debridement with broad-spectrum antibiotics

Pain out of proportion, rapid spread and systemic toxicity suggest necrotising fasciitis, a surgical emergency. Early debridement with broad-spectrum antibiotics covering streptococci, anaerobes and gram-negatives is life-saving, and imaging must not delay it.

Option by option

  • A. Urgent surgical exploration and debridement with broad-spectrum antibiotics (correct)

    Correct. Surgery is the cornerstone and should not be delayed.

  • B. Elevation of the limb and topical antibiotics

    Elevation and topical agents do not reach the deep fascial infection.

  • C. Oral antibiotics with review in 48 hours

    Oral antibiotics with a delay allow rapid progression and death.

  • D. Delay treatment until an MRI is done

    Delaying for imaging increases mortality; diagnosis is clinical with surgical confirmation.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is A, Urgent surgical exploration and debridement with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Pain out of proportion, rapid spread and systemic toxicity suggest necrotising fasciitis, a surgical emergency.

Why is "Elevation of the limb and topical antibiotics" not the answer?

Elevation and topical agents do not reach the deep fascial infection.

Why is "Oral antibiotics with review in 48 hours" not the answer?

Oral antibiotics with a delay allow rapid progression and death.

Why is "Delay treatment until an MRI is done" not the answer?

Delaying for imaging increases mortality; diagnosis is clinical with surgical confirmation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Bacterial infections: necrotising fasciitis in Dermatology. Early debridement with broad-spectrum antibiotics covering streptococci, anaerobes and gram-negatives is life-saving, and imaging must not delay it.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Bacterial infections: necrotising fasciitis?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.