Th1/Th2 cytokine levels: A potential diagnostic tool for patients with necrotizing fasciitis

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) has emerged as rare but rapidly progressive, life-threatening severe skin and soft tissue infection. We conducted a study to investigate whether Th1/Th2 cytokines could serve as biomarkers to distinguish NF from class III skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). A retrospective review was performed for 155 patients suffering from serious skin and soft tissue infections from October 2020 to February 2022. Th1/Th2 cytokines were obtained from peripheral blood and wound drainage fluid samples. Data on demographic characteristics, causative microbiological organisms, Th1/Th2 cytokines, c-reactive protein, procalcitonin and white blood cell (WBC) were extracted for analysis. Factors with statistical difference(p