If necrotising fasciitis is not treated in time, it can be deadly. If medical professionals are to blame for a delay in treatment, there will be grounds for a compensation claim.
Necrotising fasciitis deaths
Necrotising fasciitis is an aggressive bacterial infection. The bacteria get into the body’s deep tissues through a break in the skin and reproduce. This releases a toxin into the body that damages the surrounding tissue and muscle, disrupting the supply of blood and oxygen. This causes the tissue to break down. Within a short space of time, the deficiency in blood and oxygen will be so severe that the tissue and muscle die. This is called tissue necrosis.
As the bacteria reproduce, the site of infection will grow and grow. This will result in more and more dead tissue, leaving a large open wound. This will make a patient extremely unwell, and depending upon the site of infection, will limit function. For example, if the bacteria spread throughout the leg, it may have to be amputated. Or if the bacteria spread through the perineal region, sexual function may be lost.
When the infection becomes so far advanced, it is possible that the bacteria will also spread to the blood. This is very dangerous as it can result in septic shock and organ failure. At this stage, necrotising fasciitis becomes fatal. A patient will reach this stage very quickly, as sepsis can occur within days of the bacteria entering the body.
Timing of treatment
Due to the speed at which necrotising fasciitis can cause a death, it is essential that treatment is provided as early as possible. This is the only way to avoid a necrotising fasciitis fatality. Timely treatment is dependent upon medical practitioners recognising the signs of necrotising fasciitis when a patient first presents. These include an intense pain with no obvious cause, a fever, and skin that is red and hot to touch.
If medical practitioners fail to diagnose a patient with necrotising fasciitis, meaning the infection is allowed to advance throughout the body, the standard of care will be deemed unacceptable. If this substandard care causes a necrotising fasciitis death, there will be grounds for a medical negligence compensation claim.
Claim today
If your loved one has died because doctors did not treat necrotising fasciitis in time, please get in touch with us to discuss your options. We understand this is a traumatic time for you, but pursuing legal action may help you achieve a sense of justice.
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