Necrotising fasciitis is a notorious condition. Described in the press as the ‘flesh-eating disease’, the infection destroys the body’s deep soft tissue as it progresses and ultimately threatens the major organs and life of the patient.
Mortality rates
Mortality rates of necrotising fasciitis are high, even with medical attention, and a prompt diagnosis leading to rapid and comprehensive treatment is crucial to the survival of the patient.
Nonetheless, a number of factors may influence the patient’s chances of survival and recovery.
The responsible pathogen
Necrotising fasciitis can be caused by a range of bacteria. It is not the product of just one devastating bacterium. It has been associated with, amongst others, E-coli, streptococcus bacteria, clostridium, candida and vibrio vulnificus. It is often the product of more than one bacterial pathogen.
The different bacteria have been found to be associated with differing degrees of complexity of management and differing rates of mortality. Thus, the nature of the pathogen responsible for the infection and the location affected is likely to influence the long-term prognosis for the patient.
Medical practitioners are likely to try to investigate and identify the underlying pathogen(s) in order to try to target their antibiotic treatment more effectively. Sometimes, however, it is not possible to identify the responsible pathogen.
Patient factors
Some patients are more susceptible to developing necrotising fasciitis and may be more likely to have a poor outcome.
Factors which might reduce the chances of a good outcome could include the following:
- Advanced age appears to be a factor in the chances of survival with the average age of a patient who dies from necrotising fasciitis being higher than those who survive
- Pre-existing liver or kidney problems can also increase a patient’s susceptibility to the infection
- Patients with diabetes may be more vulnerable to the infection
- Patients with heart problems may be more susceptible to the condition
- Patients with an already weakened immune system seem to have a higher mortality risk
- Obesity also seems to be a risk factor which might result in a poorer outcome for the patient.
The timing of treatment
Studies have suggested that the sooner treatment is commenced, the greater the patient’s chance of survival. It is also likely that, where the patient survives, prompt treatment will mean that the infection causes less damage and the surgical treatment may not have to be so extensive or damaging.
The effectiveness of surgery
Necrotising fasciitis almost always requires significant surgical removal of all affected tissue in order to halt the spread of the infection through the body. The sooner such treatment is carried out and the more successful the debridement is in removing infected tissue promptly, the better the outcome will be for the patient.
Where the first debridement procedure fails to remove all affected tissue, further procedures will be required until the patient is free of the infection. Clearly, this increases the impact on the patient as well as giving the infection more time to spread. However, many patients with necrotising fasciitis require more than one debridement procedure before they are free of infection.
Medical negligence
Timing of diagnosis is clearly a highly significant factor in improving the patient’s chance of surviving this horrific illness.
Where possible symptoms of necrotising fasciitis are missed or further investigation is not undertaken leading to a poor patient outcome, there may be cause for a compensation claim.
Contact us to talk to a specialist medical negligence solicitor if you or a loved one are suffering the long-term impact of necrotising fasciitis due to a delay in diagnosis or treatment.
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