If a rectal abscess is not drained, it may lead to necrotising fasciitis, a rare but aggressive bacterial infection.
Rectal abscess leading to necrotising fasciitis
An abscess occurs when bacteria get into the body and the immune system sends white blood cells to fight the infection. This can damage the surrounding tissue, resulting in a hole that becomes filled with pus. This pus-filled hole is called an abscess.
An abscess can develop just underneath the skin, or anywhere inside the body – including the rectum. A small rectal abscess may drain itself and will not, therefore, require medical intervention. Most, however, will need to be drained.
If a rectal abscess is not drained, it can progress to necrotising fasciitis. The infection that caused the abscess would not have started with necrotising fasciitis. Rather, necrotising fasciitis is a well-recognised, if very uncommon, complication of a rectal abscess.
Necrotising fasciitis
Necrotising fasciitis is an aggressive bacterial infection. The necrotising infection involves the skin and the fascia (connective tissues). It may also involve the muscle. If the muscle is infected, it is called necrotising myositis.
Necrotising fasciitis and myositis never respond fully to antibiotics. Instead, the infection requires urgent, often repeated debridement surgery. Whether antibiotics are of any benefit is a source of debate but they should always be given in any event.
All of the necrotic tissue must be surgically removed if necrotising fasciitis is to be effectively treated. If all the necrotic tissue is not excised, the infection will progress. This will be very dangerous as necrotising fasciitis will be fatal if it is not treated properly.
Medical negligence claims
If medical practitioners do not diagnose and/or drain a rectal abscess, and it then develops into necrotising fasciitis, there may be a case of medical negligence. This is because if a patient’s rectal abscess was diagnosed when he/she first presented, it would have been drained and necrotising fasciitis would not have occurred. This would have prevented the complications associated with necrotising fasciitis.
To find out if you can claim for necrotising fasciitis, please get in touch with us today. We specialise in medical negligence claims and will be able to advise you further. If we suspect there is a case to be answered, we will help you pursue a claim against the medical practitioner or organisation responsible. This will ensure you are properly compensated for your losses.
To talk to a solicitor, please contact us today.
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