Utilidad de la escala “laboratorio para riesgo de infecciones necrotizantes de tejidos blandos” (LRINEC) en un caso de fascitis necrotizante por Escherichia coli

INTRODUCTION: Deep soft tissue infections have a high morbidity and mortality. The clinical diagnosis should guide the suspicion of necrotizing soft tissue infections to undertake opportunely antibiotic therapy and surgical debridement. However, the clinical presentation of each microorganism can vary widely and diagnosis can be a challenge.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility and performance of the inclusion of the “laboratory score for risk of necrotizing soft tissue infections” (LRINEC) in the diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue necrotizing infections in a complex case.CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a patient with a history of type I diabetes mellitus, without proper control, who is admitted to emergency with diabetic ketoacidosis, soft tissue sepsis and septic arthritis, secondary to acute trauma in the right leg and knee. Suspicion of deep soft tissue infection with atypical symptoms, in relation to the low level of pain with respect to the severity of the pathology. To improve the diagnostic probability, the LRINEC indicator was included.RESULTS: A necrotizing soft tissue infection was diagnosed by Escherichia coli, with a score of 8/13 on the LRINEC scale, highly suggestive of deep soft tissue infection. The diagnosis allowed to use a fast and accurate therapeutic behavior.CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic uncertainty for necrotizing deep-tissue infections puts at risk a timely pharmacological and surgical treatment. The use of the LRINEC score, provided high certainty and diagnostic reliability, allowing to use an appropriate therapeutic behavior in soft tissue necrotizing infections.