If a skin abscess is not treated, it may grow and create an area of dead tissue. This can quickly lead to a serious bacterial infection called necrotising fasciitis.
Treating an abscess
A skin abscess is a collection of pus just underneath the skin. It is caused by a bacterial infection.
An abscess happens because when bacteria get into the body, the immune system will send white blood cells to attack them. This causes the surrounding tissue to die, creating a hollow which becomes filled with pus. This painful, solid lump of pus is known as an abscess.
Some skin abscesses are small and do not need any medical intervention. However, if an abscess persists or is very large in size, medical treatment will be required. Medical professionals may first prescribe a course of antibiotics. If this does not prove effective, or the abscess is very big when a patient presents, doctors should proceed to drain the abscess with a needle.
Delayed treatment of an abscess
If an abscess is not drained, even though there is a clinical need to do so, complications will arise. This is because as the abscess grows, the infection will spread, creating more and more dead tissue. The abscess may even become so large that it bursts, causing the bacteria to spread even further.
An abscess can also lead to a serious infection called necrotising fasciitis. This will occur if the abscess is caused or further infected by a certain type of bacteria. If these bacteria get into the body’s deep tissues, they will reproduce, releasing a poisonous toxin as they do so. This destroys the tissue and connective tissue (fascia), causing it to break down and die.
The bacteria will reproduce very quickly, so it will not take long for a large area of tissue to become necrotic. This can lead to devastating consequences, including amputation, septic shock and organ failure.
Claiming for necrotising fasciitis
If inadequate abscess care caused you to develop necrotising fasciitis, you could be entitled to pursue a claim for compensation. This is because any reasonably competent medical professional in the UK should be able to treat an abscess effectively, before any serious complications arise. A failure to do so will amount to a substandard level of medical care. If this causes wrongful injury – for example, a necrotising fasciitis infection – there will be a case of medical negligence.
To claim for necrotising fasciitis after an abscess, get in touch with us today.
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