Background: Necrotizing fasciitis is an uncommon life-threatening soft-tissue infection characterized by rapidly progressing inflammation and necrosis of subcutaneous fascial tissues and it represents a subset of all necrotizing soft-tissue infections (NSTIs). The common pyoderma does not extend beyond the skin (epidermis and dermis) and include erysipelas, impetigo, etc. Necrotizing fasciitis is often underestimated because of the lack of specific clinical findings in the initial stages of the disease. Methods: This was a prospective observational study in which 200 patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of necrotizing soft tissue infections in general surgery department, Sri venktaeshwara Medical College, Tirupati from March 2017 to Oct 2018 were taken for the study. Results: In patients with severe soft tissue infections, LRINEC SCORE based on laboratory parameters is an easy and reliable predictor to diagnose necrotizing fasciitis. In developing countries like India, where in resources are limited, LRINEC score will greatly help in predicting necrotizing fasciitis.

Keywords: Necrotizing fasciitis; LRINEC score; Soft tissue infection.