A clinical study of non-diabetic soft tissue infections: risk factors for mortality and morbidity

Abstract

Background: Non-diabetic soft tissue infection is the infection of the soft tissue in a non-diabetic patient. It is rare, but results in high mortality. The aim of the study was to establish a scoring system to predict the outcome of a patient with non-diabetic soft tissue limb infection at the time of admission and to determine the factors which increase the morbidity of a patient with non-diabetic soft tissue limb infection as determined by number of days of hospital stay or limb loss or death of the patient.Methods: Clinical and laboratory details of 200 cases of non-diabetic soft tissue infections of the lower limb were retrospectively analyzed statistically, using pearson's chi square test for comparison of proportions with respect to mortality, fisher's exact test, logistic regression analysis were expressed using beta coefficient values, odds ratios. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 12.Results: Two hundred patients records were reviewed. 121 patients (60%) were males and 79 (40%) were females. Mean age was 52.5 years ranging from 14 to 91 years. Forty-six patients underwent conservative treatment, 111 patients underwent debridement and 43 patients underwent amputation. Increasing age were the risk factor associated with mortality in non-diabetic soft tissue infections that were statistically significant.Conclusions: Non-diabetic soft tissue infections still lead to high mortality and morbidity despite the use of appropriate conservative treatment, aggressive debridement, resuscitation and amputation. In this series, there is high mortality associated with increasing age.

Necrotizing fasciitis: diagnostic and prognostic value of laboratory risk indicator for necrotizing fasciitis score

“…In this study, the mean age of the patients of Spreading soft tissue infections was 47.14 years and this is quite consistent with the literature. [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] It is quite evident from literature and present study that SSTI"s mainly affects in the age group of 45 to 60 years. Male patients were more commonly involved accounting for 2/3 rd of the patients while rest 1/3 rd were females.…”

“…But comparing with Indian studies our Male: Female ratio is quite consistent with available literature. 17,19,21,24,[26][27][28][29][30] Patients with abundance of subcutaneous fats and associated co-morbid conditions like overweight and obesity are more prone to SSTI, hence BMI was calculated in the present study. Almost ½ of our patients were either overweight or obese.…”