prognosis

Last edited 04/2020

Prognostic factors in necrotising fasciitis include:

  • extent of infection
  • delayed first debridement
  • multi-organ dysfunction or systemic inflammatory response at presentation
  • diabetes mellitus
  • peripheral vascular disease
  • malnutrition
  • malignancy
  • immunocompromised states eg HIV/AIDS, steroids, cytotoxics
  • obesity
  • chronic alcoholism
  • IV drug abuse

Mortality rates was previously noted to be up to 25% (1).

However a more recent review stated that average mortality rate of 20.6% (2)

Reference:

  • (1) Elliot DC, Kufera JA, Myers RA (1996). Ann Surg 224: 672-683.
  • (2) Diab J et al. Necrotising fasciitis. BMJ 2020;369:m1428.