Necrotizing soft tissue infection of the upper extremity in patients with diabetes mellitus in a tertiary care center-a retrospective study

Abstract Background Necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) of the upper extremities is a rare but potentially life-threatening infection in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We analyzed the clinical characteristics and the outcome of NSTI of upper extremities in these patients. Methods This is a retrospective study analyzing the clinical characteristics and the outcomes of 33 T2DM patients with NSTI of upper extremities, who were treated in the department of hand surgery between January 2011 and December 2017. Results Predisposing factors for NSTI were recognized in 16 (48.5%) patients. Eleven (33.3)% patients had septic shock while ten (30.3%) had acute renal insufficiency at the time of presentation, of which six required dialysis. The mean glycosylated hemoglobin was 9.6(±2.6)% and the random plasma glucose at admission was 271(±96) mg/dl. Monomicrobial infection was seen in 16(49%) patients and polymicrobial infection in 9(27%) patients. Gram-positive causation was found in 25(66%) patients. Twelve (36.4%) patients required amputation, six (18.2%) of which were major. Death occurred in more than one-fifth (21.2%) of the patients during treatment. Conclusion Necrotizing soft tissue infection of the upper extremities in T2DM is associated with increased risk of severe infection, amputation and mortality.