Necrotizing soft tissue infections - a multicentre, prospective observational study (INFECT): protocol and...

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Research
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are severe conditions with high morbidity and mortality.
• Understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of NSTIs is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
• The INFECT project focuses on advancing knowledge in this critical area.

Purpose of the Study:

• To study the clinical profile of patients diagnosed with NSTIs.
• To correlate patient characteristics with patient-important outcomes, including mortality and amputation.
• To identify factors influencing outcomes in NSTI patients.

Main Methods:

• A multicentre, prospective observational cohort study design.
• Enrollment of patients with NSTIs across five Scandinavian referral hospitals.
• Collection of descriptive variables, assessment of affected body parts, skin defect size, and LRINEC scores.

Main Results:

• The study will provide the largest prospective dataset on NSTI patients to date.
• Analysis will focus on factors associated with 90-day mortality and amputation.
• Investigating the impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) and LRINEC scores on mortality.

Conclusions:

• The INFECT study will yield significant data for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers.
• Findings will enhance understanding of NSTI patient characteristics and outcomes.
• This research is expected to inform strategies for managing severe NSTIs.