Overview
Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are rare but potentially life-threatening infections involving the skin and underlying tissues such as fat, fascia, and sometimes muscle. They can progress rapidly and, despite modern antibiotics, surgery, and intensive care, are still associated with high in-hospital mortality.
A major challenge in the management of NSTIs is early diagnosis. Initial signs and symptoms are often nonspecific and may resemble less severe soft tissue infections, leading to diagnostic and therapeutic delays. Once identified, treatment requires urgent surgery, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and close monitoring, frequently in an intensive care setting.
Even with appropriate treatment, the clinical course of NSTIs is highly variable. Some patients recover, while others develop severe complications such as septic shock or multiple organ failure and may die during hospitalization. Predicting outcomes early in the hospital stay remains difficult for clinicians.
The aim of this observational study is to identify factors associated with in-hospital mortality in adult patients with NSTIs. In-hospital mortality, defined as death from any cause during the hospital stay for NSTI treatment, represents the most severe outcome and is of major relevance to patients and caregivers.
The study focuses on clinical and laboratory data routinely available at hospital admission or during initial emergency department evaluation. These include patient demographics, vital signs, and standard blood test results commonly obtained in early clinical assessment. No additional diagnostic tests or procedures are required for study purposes.
Identifying early predictors of mortality is particularly important in NSTIs, given the rapid progression of the disease. Early recognition of high-risk patients may allow closer monitoring and more timely interventions.
The study will be conducted in high-volume referral centers with extensive experience in NSTIs management, where care is delivered according to established international guidelines. All patients will receive standard treatment based on clinical judgment. No experimental therapies or changes in routine care will be involved.
Description
Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) represent a group of rare but extremely severe conditions characterized by rapid progression, extensive tissue destruction, and a high risk of systemic complications. These infections often require surgical management in emergency settings, broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy, and intensive supportive care. Despite improvements in diagnostic strategies, surgical techniques, and critical care, NSTIs continue to be associated with high in-hospital mortality and substantial morbidity.
The main clinical challenge in the management of these infections is the difficulty in predicting outcomes early in the hospital course. Initial signs and symptoms may be nonspecific and can overlap with those of less severe soft tissue infections. Early risk assessment remains complex, particularly during the first hours after hospital admission, when critical decisions regarding monitoring intensity, resource allocation, and escalation of care must be made.
The present study is designed to improve understanding of factors associated with adverse outcomes in patients with NSTIs by focusing on clinical and laboratory information available at the time of hospital admission. The study aims to identify early indicators of increased risk that can be recognized promptly in everyday clinical practice through the analysis of variables routinely collected during initial evaluation.
The study involves four tertiary referral academic hospitals in Italy, all of which are high-volume centers with extensive experience in the management of NSTIs and other (traumatic and septic) complex surgical emergencies.
Data used for this study are derived from routinely collected clinical information recorded during standard patient care. The dataset includes demographic characteristics, comorbid conditions, physiological parameters, and laboratory test results obtained at hospital admission and during the initial clinical assessment. The selected variables are widely available, rapidly obtainable, and commonly used by clinicians to evaluate patient status at presentation.
The study aims to clarify how combinations of early clinical and laboratory findings are associated with death and other severe in-hospital outcomes.
The study does not seek to influence or modify clinical management but rather to provide prognostic information that may complement clinical judgment.
The analytical approach includes exploratory and confirmatory statistical analyses to assess associations between admission variables and adverse outcomes. Multivariable modeling techniques are used to account for the combined effect of multiple factors and to identify independent predictors of poor outcomes.
The results of the multivariable model will be translated into a graphical risk estimation tool. This tool is intended to provide an intuitive representation of how different admission variables contribute to overall risk.
All data are handled in accordance with applicable ethical standards and data protection regulations. The study uses retrospective data collected during routine care, and appropriate approvals were obtained from institutional authorities at each participating center.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 18 years or older
- Hospital admission with a diagnosis of necrotizing soft tissue infection, including: Necrotizing fasciitis, Fournier's gangrene, Necrotizing soft tissue infections involving the neck or trunk.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Age younger than 18 years
- Patients with non-necrotizing skin or soft tissue infections
- Patients transferred to another hospital before completion of treatment or outcome assessment
- Missing data for the primary outcome (in-hospital mortality)