Timely diagnosis within six hours significantly lowers mortality in necrotizing fasciitis

A retrospective analysis of 121 patients with necrotizing fasciitis revealed that early diagnosis within six hours reduced mortality rates to 5.7% compared to 13.2% for later diagnoses. Patients receiving timely intervention experienced shorter hospital stays, averaging 17 days versus 27 days. Additionally, a combination of early diagnosis and treatment resulted in a minimal mortality rate of 3%. The findings emphasize the critical need for rapid recognition and intervention to enhance survival outcomes in necrotizing fasciitis cases.