@entity9156 is a destructive infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Survival from the condition often necessitates @entity1 referral for appropriate reconstructive surgery and supportive medical management. The aim of our study was to identify emerging patterns, characteristics and outcomes of @entity9156 in Northern Ireland. A retrospective analysis of all @entity1 referred to the Regional Plastic Surgery Service in Belfast between 2007 and 2012 was performed. Forty-six @entity1 were identified with clinical, intraoperative and histopathological confirmation of @entity9156 . Mean @entity1 age was 59.4 years (range 32-88) with a 25:21 male to female ratio. 13 @entity1 died from the disease. Smoking, @entity28 , @entity6 and immunocompromise were the most prevalent co-morbidities identified. 37 @entity1 had no identifiable mechanism of infection initiation in the history. @entity158 (44/46), @entity39 (26/46), skin blistering (8/46) and @entity9285 (3/46) were the most common presenting features. The median LRINEC score at presentation was 7 (range 2-12). The mean serum @entity880 at presentation was 4.0  mmol/L (range 1.6-13.5). LRINEC scores and serum @entity880 at presentation exhibited diagnostic sensitivities of 65% and 90% respectively. The lower extremity was the most commonly affected anatomical site (16/46). Group A Streptococcus was the most frequently isolated causative bacterium from debrided tissue cultures (16/46). The prevalence of @entity9156 in the population studied is increasing, particularly in relation to @entity1 cases caused by Group A @entity883 . Increasing bacterial virulence and levels of @entity1 immunocompromise may explain this increasing trend. The LRINEC scoring system lacked diagnostic sensitivity. Elevated serum @entity880 was supported as both a diagnostic and prognostic indicator. The findings of our study are somewhat limited in their application to other regions and highlight the need for a national analysis of @entity9156 in the UK.

Analysis of the increasing prevalence of XXXX referrals to a regional plastic surgery unit: a retrospective case series.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity883 :: ('MESH:D013290', 'Disease') :: ['Streptococcal infection'] @entity9285 :: ('MESH:D013352', 'Disease') :: ['subcutaneous emphysema'] @entity6 :: ('MESH:D003920', 'Disease') :: ['diabetes'] @entity28 :: ('MESH:D009765', 'Disease') :: ['obesity'] @entity39 :: ('MESH:D009336', 'Disease') :: ['skin necrosis'] @entity880 :: ('MESH:D019344', 'Chemical') :: ['lactate'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['Painful cellulitis'] @entity9156 :: ('MESH:D005208', 'Disease') :: ['Necrotising Fasciitis', 'necrotising fasciitis']
@entity9156 :: (MESH:D005208,Disease) :: ['necrotising fasciitis']
