Gangrene and necrotising fasciitis

Question 1

Gangrene?

Answer 1

tissue necrosis, either wet with superimposed infection, dry or gas gangrene.

Question 2

Necrotising fasciitis?

Answer 2

life-threatening infection that spreads rapidly across fascial planes.

Question 3

Gangrene causes (4)?

Answer 3

tissue ischaemia and infarction, physical trauma, thermal injury

Question 4

Necrotising fasciitis causes?

Answer 4

usually polymicrobial involving streptococci, staphylococci, bacteriodes and coliforms.

Question 5

G + NF risk factors (7)?

Answer 5

Diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, leg ulcers, malignancy, immuuosuppresion, steroid use, puncture/surgical wounds.

Question 6

G + NF epidemiology?

Answer 6

gangrenes common, necrotising fasciitis is rare.

Question 7

Gangrene symptoms?

Answer 7

pain, discolouration of affected area, often affects the extremities or areas of high pressure.

Question 8

Necrotising fasciitis sympotms?

Answer 8

pain, predisposing event.

Question 9

Gangrene signs?

Answer 9

erythematous region around the black gangrenous tissue. In wet gangrene tissue becomes boggy with pus and odour.

Question 10

Necrotising fasciitis signs?

Answer 10

area of erythema and oedema, haemorrhagic blisters, signs of imflammatory response and sepsis (high temp, tachypnoea, hypotension).

Question 11

G + NF investigations?

Answer 11

bloods, wound swab.