Early operative debridement is a major determinant of outcome in necrotizing fasciitis. However, early recognition is difficult clinically. We aimed to develop a novel diagnostic scoring system for distinguishing necrotizing fasciitis from other soft tissue infections based on laboratory tests routinely performed for the evaluation of severe soft tissue infections: the Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis (LRINEC) score.
Design: Retrospective observational study of patients divided into a developmental cohort (n = 314) and validation cohort (n = 140).
Setting: Two teaching tertiary care hospitals.
Patients: 145 patients with necrotizing fasciitis and 309 patients with severe cellulitis or abscesses admitted to the participating hospitals.
Interventions: None.
The LRINEC score is a robust score capable of detecting even clinically early cases of necrotizing fasciitis. The variables used are routinely measured to assess severe soft tissue infections. Patients with a LRINEC score of >6 should be carefully evaluated for the presence of necrotizing fasciitis. (Crit Care Med 2004; 32:1535–1541)
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.
Early operative debridement is a major determinant of outcome in necrotizing fasciitis. However, early recognition is difficult clinically. We aimed to develop a novel diagnostic scoring system for distinguishing necrotizing fasciitis from other soft tissue infections based on laboratory tests routinely performed for the evaluation of severe soft tissue infections: the Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis (LRINEC) score.
Design: Retrospective observational study of patients divided into a developmental cohort (n = 314) and validation cohort (n = 140).
Setting: Two teaching tertiary care hospitals.
Patients: 145 patients with necrotizing fasciitis and 309 patients with severe cellulitis or abscesses admitted to the participating hospitals.
Interventions: None.
The LRINEC score is a robust score capable of detecting even clinically early cases of necrotizing fasciitis. The variables used are routinely measured to assess severe soft tissue infections. Patients with a LRINEC score of >6 should be carefully evaluated for the presence of necrotizing fasciitis. (Crit Care Med 2004; 32:1535–1541)
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.