Usefulness of a risk scale based on procalcitonin for early discrimination between necrotising fasciitis and cellulitis of the extremities.

Background And Objective: To assess the usefulness of a risk scale based on serum procalcitonin (PCT) compared to the Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotising Fasciitis (LRINEC) scale in the early discrimination between necrotising fasciitis (NF) and cellulitis of the extremities.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective study of consecutive patients with confirmed diagnosis of NF in one limb (n=11). This study group was compared with 23 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of severe limbs cellulitis during the same period.