Necrotising fasciitis deaths in Australia: patient characteristics and potential areas for improvement in clinical management.

Background: Necrotising fasciitis (NF) is a life-threatening bacterial infection with high mortality. This retrospective study aimed to investigate patient characteristics and potential areas for improvement in clinical management in NF cases in Australia.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of surgical death data from all public and private Australian hospitals in every state and territory, excluding New South Wales, collected through the Australian and New Zealand Audit of Surgical Mortality for the 9-year period, January 2009 to February 2018.