Necrotising fasciitis is a rare bacterial infection that is often mistaken for another, more benign illness.
Necrotising fasciitis misdiagnoses
Necrotising fasciitis is commonly misdiagnosed. Most frequently, the condition is mistaken for cellulitis or the flu. A case of necrotising fasciitis may also be mistaken for a superficial skin wound with slough.
Slough (sluff) is when there is dead skin on a sore or ulcer. A misdiagnosis may occur because necrotising fasciitis causes the tissue at the site of infection to become discoloured and die. Normally the tissue will turn increasingly dark red in colour, eventually turning purple and finally black.
This discolouration of the skin is similar to that of slough. A doctor may therefore believe that the patient is not suffering from a serious condition, but rather a superficial sore or ulcer that is slow to heal.
Necrotising fasciitis medical negligence
A misdiagnosis of necrotising fasciitis will be problematic as the infection is very aggressive. It spreads rapidly, creating an ever increasingly area of necrotic tissue. Within a short space of time the infection will reach the bloodstream, after which the patient will develop sepsis and potentially life-threatening complications.
If there is a delay because of a misdiagnosis, questions must be raised as to whether the medical practitioner treating the patient acted reasonably. Mistaking an area of tissue necrosis for slough will be concerning, as any reasonably competent medical practitioner should be able to differentiate a serious infection from a benign sore.
Most notably, necrotising fasciitis will be associated with a rapid deterioration in tissue discolouration, a smell of rotten flesh and a fever. If a patient is displaying these clinical signs, immediate advice should be sought from a hospital’s surgical team.
A failure to apply reasonable medical expertise when treating a patient will amount to a substandard level of medical care. If a patient suffers complications as a result – for example, extensive tissue debridement and sepsis – there will be grounds for a medical negligence claim.
Claiming compensation for necrotising fasciitis
If you or your loved one has been harmed as a result of medical negligence, please get in touch with us today. We specialise in necrotising fasciitis claims and can offer expert legal advice.
After an initial consultation, we will suggest whether or not there is a case to be answered. If we believe there are grounds for a medical negligence claim, we will pursue legal action on your behalf, working hard to get the compensation you deserve.
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