Contemporary national outcomes of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in necrotizing soft tissue infections.

BACKGROUND: The role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI) is mainly based on small retrospective studies. A previous study using the 1998-2009 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) found HBOT to be associated with decreased mortality in NSTI. Given the argument of advancements in critical care, we aimed to investigate the continued role of HBOT in NSTI. METHODS: The 2012-2020 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was queried for NSTI admissions who received surgery. 60,481 patients between 2012-2020 were included, 600 (<1%) underwent HBOT. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included amputation, hospital length of stay, and costs. A multivariate model was constructed to account for baseline differences in groups. RESULTS: Age, gender, and comorbidities were similar between the two groups. On bivariate comparison, the HBOT group had lower mortality rate (<2% vs 5.9%, p<0.001) and lower amputation rate (11.8% vs 18.3%, p<0.001) however, longer lengths of stay (16.9 days vs 14.6 days, p<0.001) and higher costs ($54,000 vs $46,000, p<0.001). After multivariate analysis, HBOT was associated with decreased mortality (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 0.22, 95% CI 0.09-0.53, P<0.001) and lower risk of amputation (AOR 0.73, 95% CI 0.55-0.96, P = 0.03). HBO was associated with longer stays by 1.6 days (95% CI 0.4-2.7 days) and increased costs by $7,800 (95% CI $2,200-$13,300), they also had significantly lower risks of non-home discharges (AOR 0.79, 95%CI 0.65-0.96). CONCLUSIONS: After correction for differences, HBOT was associated with decreased mortality, amputations, and non-home discharges in NSTI with the tradeoff of increase to costs and length of stay.

A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Outcome in Comparing an Alginate Silver Dressing With a Conventional Treatment of a Necrotizing Fasciitis Wound.

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a high morbidity and mortality disease and also demands high economic resources. The standard treatment of NF is surgical debridement and proper dressing for wound bed preparation. The efficacy of silver alginate dressing can inhibit the growth of microorganisms and keep the environment clean for wound bed preparation. However an optimal dressing to manage such wounds has yet to emerge. NF patients who were admitted between April 2013 and May 2016 were randomized to have wound dressing using either silver dressing (Ag group) or normal saline solution gauze (NSS group). The 4 main outcomes for comparison between the 2 groups were the duration of wound bed preparation, total cost during hospital stay, the duration of hospital stay, and the pain score. Thirty-nine patients were included in the study: 19 patients in the NSS group and 20 patients in the Ag group. The mean duration of wound bed preparation in the NSS group was 31.87 days, and in Ag group it was 21.39 days, but this trend was not statistically significant ( P = .057). The mean cost of treatment in the NSS and Ag groups was not significantly different ( P = .434; US$3308.83 and US$2647.82, respectively). The duration of hospital days in the 2 groups was not significantly different either (29.19 days [NSS group] and 20.99 days [Ag group]; P = .222). The pain score was significantly lower in the Ag group than those in the NSS group. Although silver dressing seems to be expensive, the cost of total treatment during hospital stay and the duration of hospital stay were not significantly different between groups. However, the mean duration of wound bed preparation seems to trend favoring toward the silver dressing group.

Not just full of hot air: hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases survival in cases of necrotizing soft tissue infections.

BACKGROUND: The utility of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the treatment of necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) has not been proved. Previous studies have been subject to substantial selection bias because HBOT is not available universally at all medical centers, and there is often considerable delay associated with its initiation. We examined the utility of HBOT for the treatment of NSTI in the modern era by isolating centers that have their own HBOT facilities. METHODS: We queried all centers in the University Health Consortium (UHC) database from 2008 to 2010 that have their own HBOT facilities (n=14). Cases of NSTI were identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) diagnosis codes, which included Fournier gangrene (608.83), necrotizing fasciitis (728.86), and gas gangrene (040.0). Status of HBOT was identified by the presence (HBOT) or absence (control) of ICD-9 procedure code 93.95. Our cohort was risk-stratified and matched by UHC's validated severity of illness (SOI) score. Comparisons were then made using univariate tests of association and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: There were 1,583 NSTI cases at the 14 HBOT-capable centers. 117 (7%) cases were treated with HBOT. Univariate analysis showed that there was no difference between HBOT and control groups in hospital length of stay, direct cost, complications, and mortality across the three less severe SOI classes (minor, moderate, and major). However, for extreme SOI the HBOT group had fewer complications (45% vs. 66%; p<0.01) and fewer deaths (4% vs. 23%; p<0.01). Multivariable analysis showed that patients who did not receive HBOT were less likely to survive their index hospitalization (odds ratio, 10.6; 95% CI 5.2-25.1). CONCLUSION: At HBOT-capable centers, receiving HBOT was associated with a significant survival benefit. Use of HBOT in conjunction with current practices for the treatment of NSTI can be both a cost-effective and life-saving therapy, in particular for the sickest patients.

Invasive group A streptococcal infection: an update on the epidemiology and orthopaedic management.

Invasive group A streptococcus (iGAS) is the most common cause of monomicrobial necrotising fasciitis. Necrotising infections of the extremities may present directly to orthopaedic surgeons or by reference from another admitting specialty. Recent epidemiological data from the Health Protection Agency suggest an increasing incidence of iGAS infection in England. Almost 40% of those affected had no predisposing illnesses or risk factors, and the proportion of children presenting with infections has risen. These observations have prompted the Chief Medical Officer for the Central Alerting System in England to write to general practitioners and hospitals, highlighting the need for clinical vigilance, early diagnosis and rapid initiation of treatment in suspected cases. The purpose of this annotation is to summarise the recent epidemiological trends, describe the presenting features and outline the current investigations and treatment of this rare but life-threatening condition.

Assessment of functional limitation after necrotizing soft tissue infection.

Previous literature on necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) has focused on its diagnosis and high mortality, but to our knowledge, none have reported on the functional outcomes of patients surviving this devastating disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the management and assess factors associated with decreased physical function in patients who survived this life-threatening infection. A retrospective review was conducted on patients treated for NSTI in whom an evaluation of functional status was performed between 2002 and 2006. Measurements were based on the American Medical Association Guides of impairment rating, and categorized into a functional class from "minimal or no limitation" to "severe limitation." Multivariate analyses were performed to discern independent factors associated with functional limitation. Final disposition status after discharge was also recorded. A total of 297 patients were treated for NSTI during this time. Of these, 119 (41%) patients met inclusion criteria for review. Mean number of débridements and coverage procedures were 3.4 and 2.0, respectively. Although mean percent functional limitation was 7.1, which is classified as "minimal or no limitation," 30% of patients had "mild" to "severe" functional limitation. Extremity involvement was independently associated with a higher functional limitation class (P < .01). Functional limitation may challenge recovery from NSTI in many survivors. In this series, the involvement of an extremity predicted a higher functional limitation class at the time of discharge. Development of validated functional assessment tools and accurate longitudinal follow-up are necessary to measure the functional impact of NSTI.

Correlates of length of stay, cost of care, and mortality among patients hospitalized for necrotizing fasciitis.

Several previous studies of necrotizing fasciitis (NF) have been single-institution investigations suffering from small samples sizes. This study of 216 NF patients hospitalized in Florida, USA, during 2001 was designed to identify risk factors for length of stay (LOS), total patient charges (TC), and mortality, using a statewide database. Robust gamma mixed regression was used to determine the predictors of LOS and TC while simultaneously accounting for outliers and the clustering of patients in 87 hospitals. Relative risks (RR) for hospital mortality were calculated using binomial regression. The NF hospitalization rate in Florida was 1.3/100,000. The median TC was US$54,533 and cumulative charges for all 216 patients were nearly US$20 million. Patients aged > or =44 years at the time of admission were five times as likely to expire in the hospital than patients who were aged < or =43 years (adjusted RR 5.08, P=0.03). Unexpectedly, diabetes was associated with a 61% reduction in the risk of hospital mortality (adjusted RR 0.39, P=0.04). Age > or =44 years was the most powerful predictor of prolonged LOS, elevated TC, and an increased risk of hospital mortality in patients suffering from NF.

Hyperbaric oxygen for the treatment of fournier's gangrene.

PURPOSE: Fournier's gangrene is a necrotizing fasciitis of the genitalia that is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Groups at many institutions have initiated routine adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy. We examined whether HBO has made a difference in the morbidity, mortality and costs associated with treating this disease. We also analyzed predictors of extended hospital stay and mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of patients with the hospital discharge diagnoses of Fournier's gangrene, necrotizing fasciitis, gangrene of the genitalia and scrotal gangrene from 1993 to 2002 were reviewed. Data concerning clinical presentation characteristics, hospital stay, complications, hospital charges and outcomes, including graft failure and death, were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 42 patients were identified and followed a median 4.2 years. Of the patients 16 underwent surgical debridement and antibiotic therapy alone, and 26 were treated with HBO plus surgery and antibiotics. Overall disease specific mortality was 21.4%, that is 12.5% in the nonHBO group and 26.9% in the HBO group. Three or more complications occurred in 13% of nonHBO and in 19% of HBO cases, of which the most common was myocardial infarction. The skin graft failure rate was 6% (nonHBO) and 8% (HBO). Physical disability was a statistically significant predictor of extended hospital stay (p <0.01). There was a trend toward a correlation between known coronary artery disease and death (p = 0.2). A statistically significant difference was noted in average daily hospital charges in nonHBO vs HBO cases ($2,552 vs $3,384 daily, p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These data do not support routine HBO in the treatment of Fournier's gangrene. There was a trend toward higher morbidity and mortality in the HBO group, suggesting that treatment may have been given to patients who were more ill.

The hospital costs of treating necrotizing fasciitis.

BACKGROUND: Management of necrotizing fasciitis places significant demands upon hospital and medical resources. A successful management usually requires extensive surgical intervention and an adjunct hyperbaric oxygen treatment. The cost impact on the health care system has not been well characterized. We have, therefore, analysed the cost of treating this disease at an Australian tertiary referral hospital with extensive case experience and well-developed financial costing systems and have compared this with the current casemix-based government funding arrangements applying in Victoria, Australia. METHODS: Data was extracted from the medical records of 92 sequential patients treated by the Alfred Hospital (Melbourne, Australia) during the four financial years 2000-04. Clinical costing data and government funding data was provided by the hospital's Finance Departments. RESULTS: The total Alfred Hospital in-patient costs for treating the patients was $5,935,545 with a mean cost per patient of $64,517 (range, $1025 to $514,889). The total casemix-based funding allocation derived from treating these patients was calculated at $3,208,664 with the per patient mean $34,887 (range, $1331 to $387,168). This analysis does not include allowance for non-Alfred Hospital costs such as those incurred by the ambulance service, referring hospitals, for rehabilitation or as a result of the burden of residual disability. CONCLUSIONS: This study has confirmed that a significant economic burden is involved in treating necrotizing fasciitis. There is a substantial difference between the hospital costs and government funding for treating these patients in the Australian setting.

Burn center management of necrotizing soft-tissue surgical infections in unburned patients.

BACKGROUND: Patients with necrotizing soft-tissue infections present great challenges in management from initial presentation through definitive care. Because burn centers concentrate expertise in critical care, wound management, and rehabilitation, we examined the effectiveness of burn center care for patients with necrotizing infections. METHODS: We reviewed our burn center's experience with all patients admitted from 1990 through 1999 with a primary diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis (NF) or Fournier's gangrene (FG). RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients were identified, 18 with FG and 39 with NF. Patients had a high incidence of preexisting medical problems, including diabetes (37%), obesity defined as greater than 20% above ideal body weight (33%), and hypertension (33%). Seven of 57 (12%) patients died. Patients required a mean of 4.1 operative procedures (range 1 to 15) for definitive wound closure. The mean length of stay (survivors only) was 28.5 days, (range 3 to 70). Although costs increased throughout this period, a formal program of cost-containment resulted in no increase in actual charges per day, from a mean of $4,735 in 1991 to $5,202 in 1999. CONCLUSIONS: Burn centers can provide successful and cost-effective acute care, definitive wound closure, and rehabilitation for patients with NF and FG.