Necrotising Soft Tissue Infections: A Single Center's Case Series

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Surgical Pathology
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Necrotising soft tissue infection (NSTI) is a severe, rapidly progressing condition with high morbidity and mortality.
• Prompt diagnosis and aggressive surgical debridement are essential for effective management of NSTI.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the diagnostic and therapeutic pathway, surgical interventions, and outcomes of patients with NSTI.
• To evaluate the role of tissue culture (TC) and limb amputation in managing severe NSTI cases.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 40 patients with NSTI treated between 2015 and 2024.
• Review of demographic data, microbiological results, treatment course, clinical outcomes, and mortality.
• Specific review of tissue culture (TC) indications, timing, limb amputation, and reconstruction techniques.

Main Results:

• 35% of patients were referred at an advanced stage due to delays.
• The average number of surgical interventions per patient was 4.
• 20% of patients underwent limb amputation, and 17.5% died during hospitalization.

Conclusions:

• NSTI is a life-threatening emergency necessitating prompt diagnosis and treatment via dedicated clinical pathways.
• Tissue culture (TC) is crucial for critical or unclear diagnoses, and limb amputation can be a life-saving procedure in severe cases.