Table 1 Factors associated with increased mortality in necrotizing fasciitis [1–5, 8].

Age > 60 years

Time to operative intervention (surgery delayed >24 hours correlates with relative risk = 9.4 (p < 0.05)) [8]

Female gender

Inadequacy of initial debridement

Intravenous drug use

Larger percentage of body surface involved

Diabetes with peripheral vascular disease or chronic renal failure

Multi-organ dysfunction - the more organs failed on admission, the worse the prognosis

Other co-morbidities, particularly cancer, congestive cardiac failure, peripheral vascular disease, intravenous drug abuse, pulmonary disease

Shock, coagulopathy or acidosis on admission

WCC >30 cells/mm³ on admission

Acute renal failure on admission (doubles the mortality risk) [4]

Clostridial or vibrio vulnificus infection