Table 1.
Comparison of characteristics and mortality of necrotizing fasciitis survivors versus non-survivors
| Characteristics | Died (n = 13) | Survived (n = 45) | p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male gender, n (%) | 10 (76.9%) | 30 (66.7%) | 0.48 |
| Age, years, median (IQR) | 64 (10.5) | 55 (19.0) | 0.02 |
| Age >60 years, n (%) | 9 (69.2%) | 15 (33.3%) | 0.02 |
| Weight, kg, median (IQR) | 100 (34.1) | 84 (30.8) | 0.61 |
| Height, cm, median (IQR) | 168 (4.5) | 170 (15.2) | 0.53 |
| Body mass index, kg/m2, median (IQR) | 32.8 (12.6) | 30.5 (8.5) | 0.39 |
| Ethnicity, n (%) | |||
| Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (Micronesia, Tonga, Samoa) | 3 (23.1%) | 14 (31.1%) | 0.40 |
| Caucasian | 3 (23.1%) | 13 (28.9%) | 0.57 |
| Asian | 6 (46.2%) | 15 (33.3%) | 0.68 |
| Other (African-American, Hispanic) | 1 (7.6%) | 3 (6.7%) | 0.89 |
| ICU admission, n (%) | 13 (100%) | 28 (55.6%) | <0.01 |
| Medical ICU | 9 (69.2%) | 8 (17.8%) | <0.01 |
| Surgical ICU | 4 (30.8%) | 20 (44.4%) | 0.55 |
| Amputation, n (%) | 2 (15.4%) | 5 (11.1%) | 0.68 |
| APACHE II scores, median (IQR) | 23.5 (10) | 13 (9) | 0.01 |
| Time from admission to surgery, days, median (IQR) | 1 (3) | 2 (1) | 0.73 |
| Length of hospitalization, days, median (IQR) | 5 (8.5) | 55 (40.0) | <0.01 |
| Pathogen, positive culture, n (%) | |||
| Bacteremia, n (%) | 6 (46.2%) | 15 (33.3%) | 0.41 |
| Polymicrobial | 1 (7.7%) | 3 (6.7%) | 0.90 |
| Group A Streptococcus | 6 (46.2%) | 7 (15.6%) | 0.02 |
| MRSA | 0 (0%) | 1 (2.2%) | 0.59 |
| MSSA | 1 (7.7%) | 2 (4.4%) | 0.59 |
| Gram-negative bacteria | 0 (0%) | 5 (11.1%) | 0.23 |
| Anaerobes | 0 | 3 (6.7%) | 0.33 |
| Positive wound culture, n (%) | 11 (84.7%) | 42 (93.3%) | 0.32 |
| Polymicrobial | 7 (53.8%) | 27 (60.0%) | 0.69 |
| Group A Streptococcus | 7 (53.8%) | 18 (40.0%) | 0.38 |
| MRSA | 1 (7.7%) | 11 (24.4%) | 0.19 |
| MSSA | 2 (15.4%) | 13 (28.9%) | 0.33 |
| Gram-negative bacteria | 6 (46.2%) | 17 (37.8%) | 0.59 |
| Anaerobes | 2 (15.4%) | 5 (11.1%) | 0.68 |
| Risk factors, n (%) | |||
| Diabetes mellitus | 5 (38.5%) | 13 (28.9%) | 0.51 |
| Peripheral vascular disease | 3 (23.1%) | 6 (13.3%) | 0.39 |
| Cancer | 2 (15.4%) | 5 (11.1%) | 0.68 |
| Congestive heart failure | 5 (38.5%) | 7 (15.6%) | 0.07 |
| NSAIDs | 3 (23.1%) | 10 (22.2%) | 0.95 |
| Injection drug user | 1 (7.7%) | 3 (6.7%) | 0.89 |
| History of immunosuppressant use <6 months | 1 (7.7%) | 2 (4.4%) | 0.64 |
| History of surgery or trauma in previous 1 year | 4 (30.8%) | 14 (31.1%) | 0.98 |
IQR, interquartile range; ICU, intensive care unit; APACHE score, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation score; MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; MSSA, methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus; NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.