Necrotizing soft tissue infections: a surgical disease.
Despite advances in antibiotics and infection control practices necrotizing fasciitis is still a potentially lethal disease. We reviewed 37 patients with necrotizing fasciitis to identify prognostic factors indicating outcome. Overall mortality was 24 per cent. Mortality was significantly increased for elderly patients. Solid-organ transplant recipients also represented a subset of patients with increased mortality. Most infections were polymicrobial. There was no Clostridium perfringens cultured. Rapid diagnosis and treatment with surgical debridement remains the cornerstone of therapy.
Brandt
M M
MM
Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor, USA.
Corpron
C A
CA
Wahl
W L
WL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D015897:Comorbidity; D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate