Necrotizing Fasciitis: What'S The Culprit

Course overview

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF), also referred to as necrotizing soft tissue infections in the literature, is a sudden, devastating, life-threatening infection of the subcutaneous tissue that spreads rapidly along the fascial planes causing vascular occlusion, ischemia and tissue necrosis. The infection is usually, but not always, preceded by blunt trauma or a penetrating soft tissue injury through which bacteria are introduced into the subcutaneous tissue. When toxins are released into circulation they produce a systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) that can then progress to septic shock, multiple organ failure and death. With fulminating NF, multiple organ failure and death can occur within the first 24 hours of infection. The devastating and rapid progression of necrotizing fasciitis requires nurses to be well educated about its early symptoms and risk factors so they can recognize the condition and participate in assessing and treating the patient.