Pitfalls
- Necrotising fasciitis is a rare but potentially life-threatening infection that requires a high index of suspicion – if you don’t consider it in your differential you won’t diagnose it!
- Time to surgical intervention is critical – ensure the whole team involved in caring for the patient know this and make efforts to keep momentum towards this!
- Ensure relevant senior clinicians are aware of the patient and the working diagnosis. As a minimum, this should include ED, surgery, anaesthetics, microbiology and intensivists.