For necrotising fasciitis to happen, the bacteria must find a way into the body. This can be a cut no matter how large or small. The bacteria can even enter via a cannula.
Infections from a cannula
A cannula is a needle with a tube attached to the end of it. The needle is inserted into the vein and the tube sits on the outside of the body. It allows blood to be easily extracted, and also allows other fluids to be injected into the body. Most hospital patients will be fitted with the cannula, particularly if they are going to (or are expected to) have surgery.
The use of cannulas is very common in hospitals. However, there is a risk that the cannula site will become infected. This can be a serious complication as the needle is piercing the skin and entering the vein. A local infection can therefore enter the bloodstream very easily, leading to sepsis, which is a life-threatening illness.
To prevent this from happening, healthcare staff must be incredibly vigilant in maintaining standards of hygiene. The skin surrounding the cannula must be kept clean and sterilised.
Necrotising fasciitis from a cannula
There are various different types of infection that a hospital patient can potentially contract while in hospital. One of the most serious is necrotising fasciitis, an aggressive disease that causes the tissue to break down and die.
The bacteria that cause necrotising fasciitis can be found anywhere, including hospitals. For the infection to take hold, the bacteria must get into the body via a break in the skin. This can be as small as a needle prick from a cannula.
If the necrotising fasciitis bacteria do enter the body via a cannula site, a patient will develop a severe pain at the site of infection. The tissue will then begin to break down, turning red to purple/black in colour. If left untreated, the tissue will break down to such an extent that it dies, leaving a gaping wound in its place.
Have you contracted necrotising fasciitis in hospital?
If you have contracted necrotising fasciitis in hospital, you will of course be upset by the experience. But are medical professionals to blame for your infection?
It is possible that the infection occurred due to substandard hygiene, although this can be difficult to prove. There will be grounds for a claim, however, if medical practitioners failed to diagnose the problem, causing complications that could have been avoided.
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