Necrotising Fasciitis Flashcards
Necrotising fasciitis is rare but very serious, can be life threatening, infection of the skin and underlying tissues, specifically the fascia. How common is this condition in the UK?
1 - 5/year
2 - 50/year
3 - 500/year
4 - 5000/year
4 - 5000/year
What age does the incidence of necrotising fasciitis occur in?
1 - 15-30
2 - 25-40
3 - 30-50
4 - 50-60
4 - 50-60
Is necrotising fasciitis dangerous?
- yes
- surgical emergency and can be life threatening
What is the mortality rate of necrotising fasciitis?
1 - 1-2%
2 - 4-10%
3 - 20-25%
4 - >50%
3 - 20-25%
- sepsis is also common
Which group of patients are most at risk?
1 - young children
2 - HIV patients
3 - diabetics
4 - cancer patients
5 - all of the above
5 - all of the above
- diabetes is the most common
- essentially any patient who is immunocompromised
Necrotising fasciitis can affect anywhere on the body. All of the following are common places it can occur, but which is the most common location?
1 - feet
2 - lower legs
3 - hands
4 - genital areas
2 - lower legs
Which layers of the skin are affected by necrotising fasciitis?
1 - epidermis
2 - dermis
3 - subcutaneous tissue
4 - muscle
5 - all of the above
5 - all of the above
What is the name of Necrotising fasciitis if it occurs in the tongue?
1 - tonguitis
2 - fournier’s gangrene
3 - ludwig’s angina
4 - impetigo
3 - ludwig’s angina
What is the name of Necrotising fasciitis if it occurs in the genitals?
1 - tonguitis
2 - fournier’s gangrene
3 - ludwig’s angina
4 - impetigo
2 - fournier’s gangrene
Necrotising fasciitis is a very aggressive condition and spreads quickly. How is it able to spread so quickly?
1 - through blood
2 - uses lymphatics
3 - along soft tissue plains
4 - in hair follicles
3 - along soft tissue plains
- generally infects the deep fascia and then the subcutaneous layers
Necrotising fasciitis is typically caused by a bacterial infection. What is the most common bacteria that cause necrotising fasciitis?
1 - E. coli
2 - Group A streptococcus
3 - Staphylococcus aureus
4 - Klebsiella
2 - Group A streptococcus
In necrotising fasciitis the can be tissue death. What is the main action by which the bacteria are able to cause tissue death?
1 - eat tissue
2 - damage mitochondria
3 - release toxic substances into tissues
4 - body reduces blood flow to infected area
3 - release toxic substances into tissues
- toxins induce coagulation and clot formation
- clots blood blood vessels leading to tissue death
In the first 24 hours of a patient having necrotising fasciitis, which of the following presentation may a patient present with?
1 - intense and severe pain out of proportion to external infection of skin
2 - break in the skin
3 - fever and flu like symptoms
4 - increased lactate and WCC
5 - all of the above
4 - all of the above
- can also occur in the absence of a break in the tissue
- air can become trapped under the skin and can present as crackling
In the 3-4 days of a patient having necrotising fasciitis, which of the following presentation may a patient present with?
1 - swelling of the painful area
2 - rash in affected area
3 - diarrhoea and vomiting
4 - large dark blotches, that will turn into blisters and fill up with fluid (subcutaneous bullae)
5 - all of the above
5 - all of the above
Which of the following are critical symptoms of necrotising fasciitis, which typically occurs in days 4-5 from infection?
1 - severe fall in blood pressure
2 - toxic shock from the poisons released by the bacteria
3 - unconsciousness as the body weakens
4 - all of the above
4 - all of the above