Tsai YH, et al. - In Chia-Yi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Vibrio vulnificus, Aeromonas hydrophila, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), group A Streptococcus, and group B Streptococcus are often seen causes of necrotizing fasciitis (NF). A multiplex PCR technique was created and evaluated to simultaneously detect these five pathogens involved in NF via a novel combination of species-specific genes. Samples collected from 99 patients with surgically confirmed NF of the extremities were used for this purpose. The multiplex PCR presenting positive results in the culture-positive tissue samples had an accuracy rate of 87.5% (28/32). This suggests a possible utility of multiplex PCR of tissue specimens and indicates it could rapidly detect these lethal microorganisms in patients with NF.