Necrotising fasciitis is a destructive, fast-moving and potentially fatal infection with a high mortality rate. It is possible to survive this appalling condition and it is possible to recover from it but it will inevitably have caused the patient significant problems simply due to its very nature.
The destruction of necrotising fasciitis
By the time the patient is diagnosed with necrotising fasciitis, it is highly likely that the infection will already have caused some tissue destruction. Once the relevant bacteria have reached the deep soft tissue of the body, they will begin to cause the death of surrounding tissue. The existence of such necrotic tissue is, in fact, evidence that the patient has the illness.
In addition to the destruction caused by the condition itself, the necessary surgical treatment – removal of all affected tissue – will also cause damage to the patient’s body and may even extend to the need for the amputation of a limb.
The impact of necrotising fasciitis
Therefore, even when a patient recovers, they may suffer from the following effects:
- Significant scarring
- Loss of some tissue/muscle including the possible loss of a limb
- The need for further, plastic surgery
- Psychological damage due to the physical impact and the trauma of an extended stay in intensive care
- Susceptibility to infections such as pneumonia
Vulnerability to necrotising fasciitis
Some patients are also fundamentally more susceptible to necrotising fasciitis and those patients may find it harder to make a good recovery. Such patients would include the elderly, people with diabetes or who are obese, and patients who suffer from liver or heart problems.
Those same patients may also be additionally susceptible to future infection following necrotising fasciitis.
Aiding recovery from necrotising fasciitis
A patient with necrotising fasciitis has the greatest chance of survival and recovery where two conditions are present:
1) They are diagnosed at an early stage of the illness
2) They are treated fully as a matter of emergency
Treatment of necrotising fasciitis is likely to require immediate administration of intravenous antibiotics followed by extensive removal of all infected tissue. Without full debridement of all necrotic tissue, the infection will spread and the patient will become increasingly ill as their major organs cease to function.
Diagnosis of necrotising fasciitis
However, emergency treatment can only be provided once a diagnosis has taken place. Therefore, a prompt diagnosis of the condition is vital.
If symptoms of necrotising fasciitis are misdiagnosed allowing the patient’s condition to deteriorate, it can be seen that the outcome for the patient could be significantly worse. In these circumstances, the attending medical practitioner may be considered to have offered a substandard level of care.
Speak to a solicitor
If you have suffered from the long-term appalling symptoms of necrotising fasciitis due to delayed diagnosis or treatment, contact us to discuss your experience with a specialist medical negligence solicitor.
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