Loading…

Predictors of mortality in necrotizing soft tissue infection

Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are a major source of morbidity and mortality, yet predictors of mortality for these critically ill patients remain poorly characterized. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for mortality in patients with NSTI. We performed a retrospective re...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American surgeon 2014-10, Vol.80 (10), p.989-993
Main Authors: Keeley, Jessica, Kaji, Amy, Kim, Dennis, Yan, Huan, Putnam, Brant A, Plurad, David, Bricker, Scott, Neville, Angela L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are a major source of morbidity and mortality, yet predictors of mortality for these critically ill patients remain poorly characterized. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for mortality in patients with NSTI. We performed a retrospective review of all patients presenting with an NSTI to our county-funded, academic medical center between 2008 and 2013. Admission characteristics, comorbidities, laboratory values, time to operation, and perioperative cultures were assessed to identify predictors of mortality. During the 5-year study period, 138 patients were admitted with a NSTI; 20 (14.5%) of the patients died. Univariate predictors of mortality included bandemia, elevated creatinine, low bicarbonate, elevated lactate, a lower admission temperature, and shorter duration of presenting symptoms. Using Classification And Regression Tree analysis and subsequent logistic regression, bands greater than 25 per cent (odds ratio [OR], 8.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.7 to 24.1; P = 0.0002), duration of symptoms less than 3.5 days (OR, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.2 to 13.9; P = 0.03), and temperature 37°C or less (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.1 to 11.8; P = 0.03) were found to be independent predictors of mortality. Awareness of these predictors should prompt aggressive management of this at-risk population.
ISSN:0003-1348
1555-9823
DOI:10.1177/000313481408001017