For necrotising fasciitis to develop, the bacteria must enter the body via a break in the skin. This may be a large open wound, or it may be a tiny laceration that was not initially noticed.
Can I get necrotising fasciitis from a small cut?
Necrotising fasciitis is an infection of the body’s deep tissues. For the infection to occur, the bacteria must get inside the body and into the subcutaneous tissue.
This means that an individual must firstly come into contact with the bacteria, which can be found both inside and outside of hospital. Secondly, the bacteria must have a way of entering the body via a break in the skin. This can be a very large, obvious break such as a surgical wound. However, it may also be a small laceration that is so insignificant that the person in question does not even realise that an injury has been sustained.
Commonly, someone with necrotising fasciitis will have picked up a small cut while gardening or carrying out DIY. In other cases, the bacteria will have entered via a cannula or pin-prick. No matter how small the cut, the bacteria will be able to get into the body.
Diagnosing necrotising fasciitis
Because necrotising fasciitis can affect previously healthy people with no obvious injuries, a diagnosis can be difficult. Indeed, a patient may present to their GP or A&E department with a severe pain in one area of their body, yet have no obvious cause for the pain. The laceration of the skin may not even be visible.
This vague symptom of intense pain can create confusion for medical practitioners, especially if a patient is yet to develop fever and skin discoloration. Nevertheless, a patient should be closely monitored and any changes to their condition readily noted. This will ensure that doctors recognise the early warning signs of necrotising fasciitis, including:-
- Severe pain that is disproportionate to the injury
- Skin that is swollen, red and hot to touch
- Fever
As long as medical practitioners monitor a patient and understand the symptoms as being characteristic of a severe infection, it will be possible to diagnose the condition in a timely fashion.
Failure to diagnose
If medical professionals fail to appreciate a patient’s symptoms and discharge him/her without the treatment so desperately needed, there may be grounds for a medical negligence compensation claim. To find out more about claiming for a delayed diagnosis of necrotising fasciitis, please get in touch with us today.
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