Necrotising fasciitis is a soft tissue infection that is treated with antibiotics and debridement surgery. Treatment must be provided immediately if potentially fatal complications are to be prevented.
If you or your loved one had necrotising fasciitis and treatment was not offered within a reasonable amount of time, there could be grounds for a medical negligence claim. Please get in touch with us for more information.
Broad-spectrum antibiotics for necrotising fasciitis
When necrotising fasciitis is suspected, a patient should be immediately started on broad-spectrum antibiotics. This should be administered intravenously.
Broad-spectrum antibiotics are types of antibiotics that act against a wide range of infective bacteria. Types of broad-spectrum antibiotics that might be used for necrotising fasciitis include benzylpenicillin and flucloxacillin. Clindamycin can also be useful because it stops bacteria from reproducing, helping to prevent the spread of infection.
Refined antibiotic therapy
The patient’s blood test can then be sent to the laboratory for testing. This will verify what type of bacteria is present. This knowledge can help medical practitioners refine the type of antibiotics used, ensuring that the medication is effective against the bacteria present in the patient’s body.
However, blood tests can take up to 24 hours to analyse. This is too long to wait with necrotising fasciitis as it a very fast-moving infection. That is why a patient should be immediately started on broad-spectrum antibiotics, as it covers a range of possibilities. The therapy can be amended later.
Debridement surgery
Along with the provision of intravenous antibiotics, a patient must have debridement surgery. Necrotising fasciitis cannot be treated with antibiotics alone. Debridement surgery must be performed alongside antibiotic therapy if a patient is to have a chance of surviving.
Debridement surgery involves a procedure under general anaesthetic to remove the necrotic tissue. All of the dead tissue must be cut away, meaning quite a large wound may be left.
This operation must be carried out quickly. If there is a delay of even just a few hours, the bacteria can spread to the blood and cause sepsis, septic shock and organ failure.
Necrotising fasciitis not treated
Treatment must be started as soon as a soft tissue infection is suspected. This will be evident from the fact a patient has skin that is red, inflamed and hot to touch. The area will also be very painful, but there will be no obvious cause.
These symptoms are typical of a soft tissue infection and should prompt medical practitioners into action. If there is a failure to diagnose and treat necrotising fasciitis in time, there could be a case of medical negligence.>
If you or your loved one has been affected by necrotising fasciitis medical negligence, please get in touch with our legal team to discuss your options.
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