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.
Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Health Systems, Ann Arbor, USA.
M M
MM
Brandt
C A
CA
Corpron
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WL
Wahl
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