Necrotising fasciitis in AIDS. Leg of a 15 year old AIDS patient showing extensive tissue loss due to necrotising fasciitis, a bacterial infection of connective tissue. This spread from initial osteomyelitis (bone infection). AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is a contagious disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It causes impairment of the immune system, which causes otherwise harmless infections to become serious and life-threatening. This patient had to have extensive wound debridement (removal of dead tissue). He is from Africa. In the third world, lack of access to drugs and information makes AIDS a major public health problem.