Necrotising fasciitis has the reputation of being a pretty deadly illness. Its popular name, ‘the flesh-eating disease’, conjures up images of decay and death. But how deadly it is and what are the chances of survival?
The threat of necrotising fasciitis
There is no doubt that necrotising fasciitis can be fatal. Once the bacteria associated with infection have gained access to the deep, soft tissue of the body, it can spread rapidly through surrounding tissue, destroying all tissue as it goes and ultimately causing multiple organ failure.
The mortality rate can vary considerably according to a number of factors but is often identified as being around 30% even where treatment is undertaken.
A variety of factors can influence the outcome, some specific to the patient and the illness and some pertain to the nature of the treatment which the patient receives.
Who is more likely to survive?
Patient-specific factors
- Younger people seem to be more likely to survive with some statistics suggesting that people over 50 are more likely to die from the infection
- People with diabetes appear to be more susceptible to necrotising fasciitis
- Some research has suggested that women are more likely to die from necrotising fasciitis
- Patients who are already suffering from health conditions such as kidney problems, liver problems and heart problems may also be more likely to die from the condition
Infection-specific factors
Necrotising fasciitis can be caused by a wide range of pathogens which cause havoc once they have entered the body and it may be that some pathogens are more likely to lead to a fatal outcome than others.
There is also a possibility that patients who develop necrotising fasciitis in the upper body are less likely to survive.
Treatment-specific factors
Treatment of necrotising fasciitis almost inevitably requires surgical removal (debridement) of all infected tissue. Although this can, in itself, be destructive to the region of the body affected, it can be the only way to stop the further spread of the bacteria.
Debridement can impact on the patient’s chances of survival in two ways:
- A delay in the commencement of debridement is likely to increase the patient’s risk of a fatal outcome. It has been estimated that necrotising fasciitis can spread through the body at a rate of 2 – 3 cms per hour. It is clear that every minute is crucial in the fight to survive
- Inadequate surgical debridement is also likely to contribute to the patient’s risk of mortality. A failure to remove all affected tissue will mean that the infection will continue to spread putting the patient’s life at risk. It will also probably mean that the patient will require further surgical debridement procedures, which is likely to put an increasing strain on their body at a time when it is under attack.
Delays in diagnosis
Early treatment of necrotising fasciitis cannot take place without a diagnosis or a strong suspicion of the presence of necrotising fasciitis. Sometimes surgery is needed to confirm that the suspicion is correct.
A delay by medical practitioners in suspecting, diagnosing or referring a patient for necrotising fasciitis can have a catastrophic outcome.
Where a patient attends their medical practitioner with symptoms which should raise the suspicion of necrotising fasciitis and a referral or diagnosis is not made, it may be that the medical practitioner has acted negligently.
Speak to a solicitor
If you or a loved one have suffered the long-term appalling impact of necrotising fasciitis due to a delay in recognising your symptoms, contact us to discuss your experience with a specialist medical negligence solicitor.
It may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
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