We are used to thinking that antibiotics are a cure-all for most infections. But sometimes, antibiotics aren’t sufficient to do the job. Necrotising fasciitis is a swift-moving infection that requires surgical treatment.
Antibiotics and necrotising fasciitis
For a patient with necrotising fasciitis, antibiotics are unlikely to rid the body of infection or stop the further spread of this appalling illness. The destruction caused by the bacteria of necrotising fasciitis makes the delivery of antibiotics through the bloodstream difficult and possibly unproductive.
Antibiotics are likely to be used as part of the treatment of necrotising fasciitis, however, as part of the wider plan of supporting the patient and providing the best opportunity for recovery.
Preventing necrotising fasciitis with antibiotics
Antibiotics can also play a role in preventing someone from developing necrotising fasciitis.
Since necrotising fasciitis generally requires a cut to the skin to allow the bacteria to enter the body, anyone undergoing surgery might be considered as a candidate for prophylactic antibiotics prior to surgery to try to prevent them succumbing to infection in the first place.
A failure to provide a vulnerable patient with antibiotics prior to surgery might be considered to constitute an example of medical negligence.
Treating necrotising fasciitis
Surgery will nearly always be necessary to treat a patient with necrotising fasciitis.
Once the bacteria have entered the deep soft tissue of the body, they will begin to cause necrosis or decay of the surrounding tissue. The only way to prevent this devastation from continuing is to remove all damaged tissue until the infection has been entirely surgically removed.
This process may require three or four surgical procedures in order to ensure that all presence of the infection has been removed. This is likely to involve considerable removal of skin and underlying tissue and can cause extensive long-term scarring.
Furthermore, it is occasionally, tragically, necessary for a limb to be amputated in order to save the patient’s life.
Failure to treat necrotising fasciitis
A failure to remove all infected tissue as quickly as possible will put the patient’s life at risk. Necrotising fasciitis can spread through the body’s tissue at an alarming rate and start to affect the body’s major organs and life-support system within days.
It is, therefore, vital that medical practitioners take action as soon as they suspect the patient may be suffering from this shocking condition.
Without doubt, necrotising fasciitis is a medical emergency.
Medical Negligence
A failure to recognise the symptoms of necrotising fasciitis or to refer for investigation where signs are suspicious may amount to medical negligence.
If you or a loved one are suffering the appalling, log-term effects of necrotising fasciitis due to a failure to act promptly in response to your symptoms, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.
Contact us to discuss your experience with a specialist medical negligence solicitor.
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