Role of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein as a predictor of severity of cellulitis and necrotising fasciitis

ABSTRACT

Background: Skin infections are major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, affecting more than one person/1000 person/year. Sepsis has a worldwide incidence of more than 20 million cases a year, with mortality due to septic shock reaching up to 50% even in industrialized countries. Acute phase reactants like erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) have been used traditionally as markers for inflammation and are readily available in most centres. Aim was to study the correlation between the values of ESR and CRP with severity of cellulitis and necrotising fasciitis (in term of hospital stay and disease outcome).Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted at Department of Surgery, GMC and Hamidia Hospital, Bhopal from a period of March 2016 to August 2018.Results: Skin and soft tissue infections are most commonly affects male, diabetes mellitus most common co-morbid condition. Mean value of ESR and CRP in patients who could not survived was 64.44 and 145.92 respectively and value more than 54.95 and 93.41 requires longer hospital stay.Conclusions: ESR and CRP are non-specific test but they are good predictors of severity of cellulitis and necrotising fasciitis not only in planning of management of these cases but also predicting outcome of the disease.