HMGB1 and infection: For this purpose, biopsies collected from repeated surgeries at different sites of infection (e.g., fascia, soft tissue, and muscle) of 31 GAS NSTI patients were analyzed for the presence of markers of tissue necrosis [high-mobility-group-protein B1 (HMGB1)], inflammation (IL-8), neutrophil infiltration [neutrophil elastase (NE)], and neutrophil degranulation (resistin; Additional file 1: Fig. S5).