Polymicrobial and Monomicrobial Necrotizing Fasciitis: Clinical, Laboratory, Radiology, Pathological Hallmark and Differences, a Retrospective Analysis
Abstract Background: Necrotizing fasciitis(NF) is a life-threatening infection with high morbidity and mortality rates which should be diagnosed and treated with surgical and antibiotic therapy. Many studies have addressed NF and its subtypes, but few have reviewed the clinical, radiological and pathological differences between the poly-microbial and the mono-microbial groups. Objective: The objective of our study is to describe a relatively large cohort of patients with NF and study and compare the clinical, radiological and pathological differences between the poly-microbial(Pm) and the mono-microbial(Mm) groups.Methods: The charts of hospitalized patients with NF diagnosis from 2002-2019 at the Rabin Medical Center were reviewed. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at 90 days, secondary outcomes included duration of hospitalization, intensive care unit(ICU) admission, LRINEC score and the need for vasopressor use. Results: 81 patients with NF were included in the study, 54(66.6%) had Mm growth and 27(33.3%) had Pm growth. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the 90 days mortality, and moreover in hospital mortality was also insignificantly different. In a multivariate analysis, we found that 90 days mortality was more prevalent in the Mm group compared to Pm group. In addition, we found that in hospital mortality, ICU admission and vasopressors use were more frequent among the Mm-group compared to the Pm-group. Conclusions: our study is the first to compare the differences between the two most prevalent entities of NF. The results demonstrate better prognosis for Pm-NF, with minimal ICU stay, lower mortality, and lower use of vasopressors.