Necrotizing soft tissue infections after injection therapy: Higher mortality and worse outcome compared to other entry mechanisms

Summary Objectives Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections represent a rare entity of infection associated with a high mortality. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze patients with an iatrogenic etiology of injection or infiltration to compare the outcome with other etiologies. Methods The study group consisted of 21 patients treated with a Necrotizing Fasciitis caused by injection or infiltration. Risk factors and outcome were compared to 134 patients with a Necrotizing Fasciitis caused by other entry mechanisms. Results Overall mortality in our study group was 14 of 21 (67%) with an amputation rate of 11 of 15 (73%) if an extremity was involved. The survival rate was significantly worse after injection or infiltration (p