Ignoring or misdiagnosing the signs of necrotising fasciitis can be fatal. However, the condition can be confused with other illnesses and it is often necessary to consider the patient’s broader context.
Necrotising fasciitis is a relatively rare condition and so, when a patient presents with symptoms such as a high temperature, a fast heartbeat and chills, it may not be the first diagnosis that comes to minds. A failure to consider it as a possible explanation of the patient’s condition, however, may prove to be fatal.
Presenting symptoms
Necrotising fasciitis most frequently develops following a cut to the skin which allows the relevant bacteria to access the interior of the body.
Therefore, the presence of a cut or wound should alert a medical practitioner to the possible presence of necrotising fasciitis.
Such a wound can vary both in size and cause. It may be as insignificant as a bite, or a small cut or graze sustained in the garden or the kitchen. It could also be a deliberate surgical incision or an injection site made during a planned hospital procedure.
If the patient is starting to develop necrotising fasciitis in this way, it is likely that the wounded area will be causing extreme pain as well as becoming red, swollen and tender.
The combination of these symptoms and circumstances should raise the possibility of a necrotising fasciitis diagnosis.
At-risk groups
Certain groups of people are also more likely to succumb to a necrotising fasciitis infection and this broader context needs to be taken into consideration.
At-risk groups include the following:
- Patients who already suffer from diabetes appear to be more susceptible to developing necrotising fasciitis
- Elderly patients are also more susceptible to his appalling infection and age is a factor which should be taken into consideration
- Obesity is another factor which can increase a patient’s chances of developing the illness and, especially where this condition is present with other risk factors, there should be a high suspicion of necrotising fasciitis
- Patients who have a weakened immune system for whatever reason – whether due to a pre-existing condition or the impact of pre-existing treatment – should also be considered as being vulnerable to this severe infection
- Patients with a variety of other conditions which already compromise the functioning of the body’s life-support systems, such as liver or kidney problems, should also alert a medical practitioner to the possible presence of a severe infection
Developing necrotising fasciitis in hospital
Necrotising fasciitis can often arise in a hospital setting for a number of reasons:
- Patients may be undergoing a procedure which necessitates an incision to the skin such as surgery or the insertion of a cannula
- Patients may well already have a pre-existing condition which compromises their immune system
- Patients may require an extended stay or be relatively immobile due to their surgery and these are circumstances which can allow a pressure sore to develop. Untreated pressure sores can become infected, giving rise to necrotising fasciitis.
Therefore, patients who are already in hospital and start to develop signs of severe infection merit a consideration of the possibility that they are suffering with necrotising fasciitis. It may be necessary to put them on intravenous antibiotics immediately or to begin surgical investigation as quickly as possible.
Medical negligence
Where the symptoms of necrotising fasciitis are missed, allowing the patient’s condition to deteriorate, the outcome is likely to be significantly worse than would otherwise have been the case.
Where the patient’s broader context puts them at significant risk of a necrotising fasciitis infection and yet their symptoms still do not prompt an investigation of this condition, the medical professionals involved may be considered to have been negligent.
Speak to a specialist solicitor
Here at Glynns Solicitors we have supported numerous successful claims for delayed diagnosis and treatment of necrotising fasciitis and would be happy to advise you.
If you or a loved one are suffering with the significant, long-term impact of this appalling condition, ring us today to discuss the possibility of making a compensation claim.
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