Patients with necrotising fasciitis require immediate hospitalisation. Ironically, however, it is also possible for the condition to develop during a hospital stay.
Developing necrotising fasciitis
Most people who develop necrotising fasciitis do so because they have suffered an injury which causes a cut or incision to the skin, a scenario which is, of course, common for patients undergoing surgical procedures.
The condition can also result from internal abdominal medical conditions, especially where complications have developed. Patients in this situation may already be in hospital undergoing teatment.
It can be seen, therefore, that it is highly possible that certain patients may be susceptible to developing this shocking condition whilst in hospital.
Necrotising fasciitis after surgery
Necrotising fasciitis generally tends to affect the limbs, genital area, or the abdomen. Surgery to those areas of the body, therefore, is most likely to put a patient at risk of developing the infection.
Injections and incisions required during surgical procedures offer up the opportunity for bacteria causing necrotising fasciitis, such as streptococcal bacteria and clostridium, to enter the deep tissue of the body. Once inside the body, these bacteria destroy the tissue they encounter.
Given the most common locations for necrotising fasciitis to develop, the types of surgery most likely to lead to this appalling condition could include the following:
- A hysterectomy
- Removal of the gallbladder
- Caesarean section birth
- Bowel surgery
- Surgery for inflammatory bowel disease
- Surgery to the perineum and genitals
- Hip and knee surgery
Preventing necrotising fasciitis during surgery
When a patient is about to undergo surgery, it may be considered appropriate to give that patient prophylactic antibiotics in advance in order to try to prevent the development of infection. This would be particularly important in at-risk groups of patients.
Clearly, patients who have already undergone such surgery also require close monitoring to check for signs of infection and extreme pain associated with necrotising fasciitis.
Necrotising fasciitis as a development of abdominal conditions
Necrotising fasciitis can also result from an existing condition, usually abdominal, that has developed complications.
This might include the following:
- Perforated diverticulitis where the bowel wall has been damaged when an infected diverticular pouch in the lining of the bowel has ruptured
- Perforated appendicitis, where the appendix has burst
- Perforation due to ulcerative colitis
- Bowel perforation due to cancer
At-risk patients
Patients experiencing the above surgical procedures or abdominal conditions are clearly at risk of developing infection but certain categories of individual are fundamentally more susceptible than others and this should be taken into account by medical professionals attending them in hospital.
These groups would include the following:
- The elderly
- Patients already suffering from diabetes
- Patients who are overweight
- Patients who already have a weakened immune system due to existing medical conditions or receiving specific types of medical treatment
- Patients with on-going liver or heart conditions
Pressure sores in hospital
Patients requiring long-term stays in hospital who have restricted mobility for whatever reason are also vulnerable to developing pressure sores. This is particularly the case for overweight and elderly patients.
Pressure sores and burst or drained abscesses can lead to necrotising fasciitis as they allow bacteria to enter the body.
There are guidelines for the prevention and monitoring of such a development which include the provision of mattresses which reduce the pressure and the regular turning and movement of patients to relieve pressure on the areas of the body most likely to suffer sores such as the buttocks.
Fournier’s Gangrene
Fournier’s Gangrene is a variant of necrotising fasciitis which develops, predominantly in men, in the genital region.
It can develop due to pressure sores as well as following surgery in the genital area and patients to whom these circumstances apply are very vulnerable and require close attention for signs of infection.
Medical Negligence
Necrotising fasciitis can be fatal. It is a terrifyingly fast-moving infection with a very high mortality rate and, for these reasons, it is imperative that vulnerable patients in specific scenarios are protected to the utmost from the development of this condition.
Where medical professionals are found to have been lax in their approach to the dangers of infection and a patient develops this appalling illness, the long-term physical and psychological effects likely to be significant. In this situation, the patient may be entitled to make a claim for their pain, suffering and associated losses.
Speak to a solicitor
Contact us if you or a loved one have suffered from necrotising fasciitis due to a failing in medical care.
We are a specialist medical negligence legal practice with substantial experience with necrotising fasciitis claims.
Free, No Obligation Enquiry
We are here to help you, so please do call us now on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Free Online Enquiry.
