What is necrotizing fasciitis?
Necrotizing fasciitis (NECK-re-tie-zing FASH-e-i-tis) is a rare bacterial infection that spreads quickly in the body and can cause death. Accurate diagnosis, rapid antibiotic treatment, and prompt surgery are important to stopping this infection.
How is necrotizing fasciitis treated?
Treatments for necrotising fasciitis The main treatments are: surgery to remove infected tissue – this may be repeated several times to ensure all the infected tissue is removed (amputation of affected limbs may be necessary sometimes) antibiotics – usually several different types are given directly into a vein.
How do you get necrosis fasciitis?
You can get necrotizing fasciitis when bacteria enter a wound, such as from an insect bite, a burn, or a cut. You can also get it in: Wounds that come in contact with ocean water, raw saltwater fish, or raw oysters, including injuries from handling sea animals such as crabs.
What is the survival rate of necrotizing fasciitis?
Prognosis and Complications The mortality rate of necrotizing fasciitis ranges from 24% to 34%. Coincident necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) have a mortality rate of 60%. Extensive surgical debridement and amputations are not uncommon.
What does necrotic skin look like?
What does skin necrosis look like? There are two main types of necrotic tissue present in wounds. One is a dry, thick, leathery tissue usually a tan, brown, or black color. The other is often yellow, tan, green, or brown and might be moist, loose, and stringy in appearance.
What are the first signs of necrosis?
Symptoms
- Pain.
- Redness of the skin.
- Swelling.
- Blisters.
- Fluid collection.
- Skin discolouration.
- Sensation.
- Numbness.
How fast does necrosis spread?
It is a very severe bacterial infection that spreads quickly through the tissue (flesh) surrounding the muscles. In some cases death can occur within 12 to 24 hours. Necrotizing fasciitis kills about 1 in 4 people infected with it. Necrotizing fasciitis may start from an infection in a minor cut or bruise.
What are the most common complications of necrotizing fasciitis?
What are complications of necrotizing fasciitis?
- Renal failure.
- Septic shock with cardiovascular collapse.
- Scarring with cosmetic deformity.
- Limb loss.
- Sepsis.
- Toxic shock syndrome.
What is the most common cause of necrosis?
Necrosis is caused by a lack of blood and oxygen to the tissue. It may be triggered by chemicals, cold, trauma, radiation or chronic conditions that impair blood flow. 1 There are many types of necrosis, as it can affect many areas of the body, including bone, skin, organs and other tissues.
How do you know if a tissue is necrotic?
Necrotic wounds will lead to discolouration of your skin. It usually gives a dark brown or black appearance to your skin area (where the dead cells are accumulated). Necrotic tissue color will ultimately become black, and leathery.
What causes the subcutaneous tissue to die in NF?
NF is caused by one or more bacteria that attacks the skin, the tissue just beneath the skin (subcutaneous tissue), and the fascia causing these tissues to die (necrosis). These infections can be sudden, vicious, and fast-spreading.
What does the word fasciitis mean in medical terms?
Fasciitis means inflammation of the fascia (the tissue under the skin that surrounds muscles, nerves, fat, and blood vessels). The infection often spreads very quickly.
What happens if NF is not treated quickly?
If not treated quickly with antibiotics and/or debridement of the infected tissue, the patient may develop toxic shock syndrome or toxic shock-like syndrome, which may lead to multiple organ failure and death. Early symptoms of NF are often mistaken for the flu.