Non-necrotizing and necrotizing soft tissue infections in South America: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: This study analyzed and described factors related to necrotizing or non-necrotizing soft tissue infections (SSTIs) in a hospitalized patient population in Northeastern South America. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included patients hospitalized with SSTIs between January 2011 and December 2016. The main factors related to necrotizing SSTIs (NSTIs) or non-necrotizing SSTIs were analyzed together or separately. RESULTS: Of 344 SSTI patients (161 [46.8%] non-necrotizing, 183 [53.2%] necrotizing), NSTI patients had a higher incidence of heart disease (P = 0.0081) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD; p < 0.001), more antibiotic use, and longer hospital stay (P < 0.001). NSTI was associated with a 9.58, 33.28, 2.34, and 2.27 times higher risk of PAD (confidence interval [CI] 3.69–24.87), amputation (7.97–139), complications (1.45–3.79), and death (1.2–4.26), respectively, than non-necrotizing SSTI. The risk factors associated with amputation were PAD (P < 0.001) and poor glycemic control during hospitalization (P = 0.0011). Factors associated with higher mortality were heart disease (P < 0.001), smoking (P = 0.0135), PAD (P = 0.001), chronic renal failure (P = 0.0039), poor glycemic control (P = 0.0005), and evolution to limb irreversibility (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with NSTI have greater illness severity, with a greater association with PAD and amputation. Patients with poor glycemic control more frequently underwent amputation and died.