Necrotizing fasciitis: review of 82 cases in South Auckland

Early recognition of necrotizing fasciitis (NF) can be difficult, but is important as infections progress rapidly and have significant mortality. The aim of this study of patients with NF was to determine the clinical characteristics at presentation, causative pathogens and subsequent clinical outcome.

We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients with NF presenting to Middlemore Hospital from January 2000 to June 2006.

Eighty-two patients were evaluated: 56% male, mean age 54.9 years (standard deviation 18.5), 40% Pacific Islanders. The site of infection was the lower limb in 46 (56%) patients, upper limb in 12 (15%) patients and perineum in 13 (16%) patients. Twenty-two (27%) patients were taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, 29 (35%) had diabetes mellitus, 25 (30%) had gout and 17 (21%) had congestive heart failure. Forty-nine (60%) patients had a surgical procedure within 24 h of admission. Streptococcus pyogenes was isolated from tissue or blood cultures in 33 (40%) patients and 26 (32%) patients had polymicrobial infection. Twenty-five (30%) patients died, 17 (68%) within 72 h of admission. Independent predictors of mortality include congestive heart failure (P = 0.033) and a history of gout (P = 0.037).

NF remains an important disease in our community with significant morbidity and mortality. Pacific Islanders were disproportionately represented. Early diagnosis of NF can be difficult and requires a high index of suspicion in all patients presenting with cellulitis or unexplained sepsis. Congestive heart failure and gout are independent predictors of mortality and patients with these conditions and sepsis need early assessment with more aggressive hospital triaging.