Low sensitivity of physical examination findings in necrotizing soft tissue infection is improved with laboratory values: a prospective study.
BACKGROUND
When clinical "hard signs" of necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) are present, establishing the diagnosis of NSTI is not difficult. However, hard signs of NSTIs are often absent on presentation, thus potentially delaying diagnosis and surgical intervention. A prior retrospective study performed at our institution demonstrated that admission white blood cell (WBC) count >15,400/microL x 10(9)/L and/or serum sodium (Na) <135 mEq/L could help differentiate NSTI from non-NSTI. The purpose of this study was to prospectively determine how often "hard signs" of NSTI are present and to evaluate how knowledge of laboratory parameters influence our surgeons' abilities to diagnose and manage NSTI.


METHODS
Prospective observational data collection to determine the sensitivity of NSTI "hard signs" and administration of a questionnaire in which the surgeon was asked whether he believed the patient had an NSTI based on physical examination (PE) alone, and then after being informed of the Na level and WBC count.


RESULTS
Twenty-one patients with a mean age of 41 years had NSTI. Mean admission WBC count and Na level were 31,500/microL and 127 mEq/L, respectively. Only 9 (43%) had hard signs of NSTI. Suspicion for NSTI increased from 9 to 18 (86%) after evaluating laboratory criteria (P = .008).


CONCLUSIONS
Fewer than half of the patients presented with hard clinical signs of NSTI. Admission WBC count >15,400/microL or serum Na <135 mEq/L significantly increased suspicion for NSTI and aided early diagnosis.
Chan
Tony
T
Department of Surgery, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA.
Yaghoubian
Arezou
A
Rosing
David
D
Kaji
Amy
A
de Virgilio
Christian
C
D000328:Adult; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D012964:Sodium