Methods of treating a subject who has an tissue damage or who is at risk for tissue necrosis are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of treating a subject who has an inflammatory disorder. The methods can include administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising inorganic nitrite or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for a time and in an amount sufficient to reduce the tissue damage. The subject can be diagnosed as having a medical condition that results tissue damage, for example, diabetes, peripheral artery disease, cardiovascular disease, defective wound healing, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, ischemia, or a bacterial infection, e.g., Group A staphylococcal infection. The methods can include the step of monitoring the course of treatment.