Infect Chemother.  2013 Dec;45(4):387-393. 10.3947/ic.2013.45.4.387.

Necrotizing Fasciitis in Three University Hospitals in Korea: A Change in Causative Microorganisms and Risk Factors of Mortality During the Last Decade

• Yu SN
• Kim TH
• Lee EJ
• Choo EJ
• Jeon MH
• Jung YG
• Kim TJ
• Mun IK
• Lee JS

• KMID: 2170442
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3947/ic.2013.45.4.387

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Necrotizing fasciitis is a life-threatening infectious disease with rapidly progressive involvement of the affected site. Because of the high mortality rate of this disease, early diagnosis, surgical exploration, and administration of appropriate antibiotics are necessary. The present study aimed to further review the changes in the clinical and microbiological characteristics of necrotizing fasciitis using patients' medical records from consecutive databases of 3 hospitals in Korea.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with necrotizing fasciitis who were clinically diagnosed between May 2001 and February 2012 in 3 university hospitals in Korea. In total, the data of 83 patients were analyzed, including those of 20 patients from our previous study in 2006. An organism found in a blood culture or surgical specimen was regarded as a causative organism.
RESULTS
Of the 83 patients, 68(81.9%) had community-acquired infections. Ninety microorganism species were indentifed by culture. Streptococcus was the most commonly identified pathogen. Non-fermentative gram-negative bacteria and Candida species have recently emerged, especially in immunocompromised hosts.
CONCLUSIONS
Gram-positive organisms are still the most common pathogens of necrotizing fasciitis. However in our study, various gram-negative bacteria with different levels of susceptibility to antibiotics, as well as Candida species, were responsible for the necrotizing fasciitis. Initial empirical antimicrobial agents for necrotizing fasciitis should be considered depending on the individual patient's condition.

Keyword

Necrotizing fasciitis; Skin and soft tissue infection

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Anti-Infective Agents
Candida
Communicable Diseases
Community-Acquired Infections
Early Diagnosis
Fasciitis, Necrotizing*
Gram-Negative Bacteria
Hospitals, University*
Humans
Immunocompromised Host
Korea*
Medical Records
Mortality*
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors*
Streptococcus
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Anti-Infective Agents

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