title: Independent predictors of mortality for necrotizing fasciitis: a retrospective analysis in a single institution.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Necrotizing fasciitis (NF), a life-threatening soft tissue infection, requires early diagnosis, prompt and repeated surgical intervention, and broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. The aim of this study was to identify the independent predictors of mortality among patients with NF in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients who were admitted to Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan, with a diagnosis of NF. The definitive diagnosis was confirmed by the surgical findings, including (1) dishwater or foul-smelling discharge, (2) presence of necrotic fascia or lack of fascial bleeding, and (3) lack of resistance of normally adherent muscular fascia to blunt dissection. To identify factors associated with mortality, variables including personal history and comorbidities, clinical symptoms and signs, laboratory data, and microbiological data were compared between survivors and nonsurvivors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From January 2003 to December 2009, 472 patients treated for NF were included in the study. The overall mortality was 12.1% (n = 57) and the 30-day mortality was 11.0% (n = 52). Multivariate analysis revealed eight independent predictors of mortality for NF including liver cirrhosis, soft tissue air, Aeromonas infection, age older than 60 years, band polymorphonuclear neutrophils >10%, activated partial thromboplastin time >60 s, bacteremia, and serum creatinine >2 mg/dL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We identified eight independent predictors of mortality that provided useful information on the severity of NF and guidance for treatment. Prospective studies are required to examine the fitness and sufficiency of these variables as effective predictors of NF mortality.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuo-Feng
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Min-Hsiang
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Yu-San
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chin-Li
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chun-Chia
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yen-Hsun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D016470:Bacteremia / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D003646:Debridement; D019115:Fasciitis, Necrotizing / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology