Necrotising fasciitis is a soft tissue infection that affects a greater number of males than females, with a preponderance of cases affecting the external male genitalia.
Infection after male genital surgery
Infection is a risk of all types of surgery, with genital surgery being no exception. Operations that involve the male genitalia include vasectomy, orchiectomy, penile prosthesis and biopsy.
Surgical incisions provide bacteria with an opening through which to enter the body. If this happens after male genital surgery, an infection will develop. Subsequently the area will become painful, red and swollen.
Different types of bacteria cause different types of infection. Not all infections that occur after male genital surgery will be necrotising fasciitis. But if the bacteria is, for example, Group A Streptococcus or E. Coli, necrotising fasciitis will arise.
Fournier’s Gangrene
Necrotising fasciitis is a soft tissue infection that can affect any part of the body. However, the infection does seem to affect the male genital more readily.
There have been accounts of gangrenous diseases in the male genitalia throughout history, including a study by Jean-Alfred Fournier in 1884. It is for this reason that necrotising fasciitis that appears in the male genitalia is often referred to as ‘Fournier’s Gangrene’.
Diagnosing and treating necrotising fasciitis in the genitals
If a patient has recently undergone genital surgery, medical practitioners should be concerned about any signs of postoperative infection. Initially there will be pain, redness and swelling. With necrotising fasciitis, the symptoms will quickly progress to include a fever, blistered skin and foul-smelling fluid.
Clinicians should immediately take note of these symptoms and proceed to investigate the problem further. The signs are highly characteristic of a soft tissue infection so broad spectrum antibiotics should be started without delay. The patient can then be taken back to theatre for surgical exploration. This is very effective in the diagnosis of necrotising fasciitis.
Delayed diagnosis of surgical infection in male genitals
If necrotising fasciitis is not diagnosed and treated quickly enough, the results can be devastating. The area of necrosis will become very large, all of which will have to be surgically removed. This might involve significant areas of the penis, testes and scrotum, leading to sexual and urinary dysfunction.
Necrotising fasciitis can also spread to the blood, leading to sepsis, septic shock and organ failure. Such complications can be fatal, and necrotising fasciitis does have a high mortality rate.
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If you or your loved one suffered because an infection was not detected after surgery, please contact us to talk to a solicitor. You could be entitled to claim compensation.
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