Clinicoepidemiological profile of necrotizing fasciitis in a tertiary care center of western Odisha

Background: Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a state of infection promptly intensifying the destruction of skin with underlying tissue leading to permanent infirmity and high mortality irrespective of good parenteral drug coverage and contentious surgical handling. NF normally begins as a confined infective focus that initially presents as cellulitis later rapidly progresses to large areas of infection which disproportionate to pain. Aims and Objectives: The primary aim of this study is to determine the incidence and management methods of NF in tertiary health-care center of western Odisha. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of medical records of patients diagnosed with NF presenting to department of general surgery, Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Burla, from March, 2020 to February, 2022 was performed. Various information such as patient’s demographics, type of presentation at the time of admission, age group affected, body parts affected, mode of injury, and microbiological status were collected in a predesigned format for analysis. Data were presented in number and percentage. Results: A cumulative of 96 cases with clinical features of NF was reviewed. The median age group range was 31–40 years. Nearly 94.7% cases had significant underlying comorbidities. Extremities were most commonly affected part. About 82.2% cases had undergone surgical debridement, 13.5% cases fasciotomy, and 4.2% cases skin grafting. Most common mode of injury is trivial injury. Group A Streptococcus is most common cause of organism. Almost 78.3% cases were healed. Conclusions: NF can induce upscaled morbidity and mortality if left undetected and untreated in primordial stages. The medics, paramedics, and specialists including surgeons need to have a high degree of intuition to diagnose NF at its beginning stages and thus precisely put resuscitative efforts, plan for debridement, and need for any urgent referral.