Necrotising fasciitis is highly morbid and often fatal soft tissue infection.1-3 Although not common, with incidence ranging from 0.3-5 per 100,000, mortality is reported between 6-76%.1,2,4,5 Thus, prompt diagnosis and intervention is key. However, the lack of specific characteristics and symptoms, means that diagnosis is often no that straightforward.1,2,5 Given there is no gold standard test or marker for diagnosis, clinical suspicion should remain high, yet despite this, up to 50% of patients are often misdiagnosed initially.1,3 This has implications for management and mortality, as early surgical debridement of necrotic tissue is a paramount.1,3
This audit aims to review necrotising fasciitis in Te Whatu Ora, Waitaha. This will help to provide baseline demographic data on patients diagnosed with necrotising fasciitis in Te Whatu Ora, Waitaha, help to provide education about necrotising fasciitis and compare this to international literature. We will also aim to collect prospective data where a review has been requested for clinical concern of necrotising fasciitis and the outcome of this review.
All patients who were diagnosed with necrotising fasciitis over a one-year period were included. Patients were identified through either coded diagnosis or operative record. Data where a patient review has been request from another specialty for clinical concern of necrotising fasciitis will be collected and outcome recorded
The results will be discussed as part of the necrotising fasciitis session on Thursday as requested by Dr Sally Langley.