Necrotizing soft-tissue infection: 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 · Necrotizing soft-tissue infection

Sample item

A patient with diabetes has rapidly worsening limb pain out of proportion to examination, fever, skin discoloration, and crepitus. What is the most appropriate management?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Urgent surgical debridement with broad-spectrum antibiotics

Necrotizing soft-tissue infection is a surgical emergency. Rapid resuscitation, broad antimicrobial therapy, and immediate operative exploration and debridement are required.

Option by option

  • A. Topical steroid and review next week

    Steroids delay treatment of a life-threatening infection.

  • B. Simple oral antihistamine

    Antihistamines do not treat invasive bacterial infection.

  • C. Reassurance because crepitus is benign

    Crepitus with systemic toxicity is an alarming sign, not benign.

  • D. Urgent surgical debridement with broad-spectrum antibiotics (correct)

    Correct. Definitive source control cannot be delayed.

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.

More Dermatology questions

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is D, Urgent surgical debridement with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Necrotizing soft-tissue infection is a surgical emergency.

Why is "Topical steroid and review next week" not the answer?

Steroids delay treatment of a life-threatening infection.

Why is "Simple oral antihistamine" not the answer?

Antihistamines do not treat invasive bacterial infection.

Why is "Reassurance because crepitus is benign" not the answer?

Crepitus with systemic toxicity is an alarming sign, not benign.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Necrotizing soft-tissue infection in Dermatology. Rapid resuscitation, broad antimicrobial therapy, and immediate operative exploration and debridement are required.

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 Necrotizing soft-tissue infection?

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.