Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) demonstrates good sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis (NF), according to results published in The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. Amy Marks, MD, and colleagues examined studies evaluating the ability of POCUS to diagnose NF. Among 221 patients, 33% of whom had NF, the overall sensitivity of POCUS ranged from 85.4% to 100%, and the specificity ranged from 44.7% to 98.2%. Fluid accumulation occurring along the fascial plane was found to be the most sensitive indicator (85.4%; 95% CI, 72.2% to 93.9%), while subcutaneous emphysema was the most specific (100%; 95% CI, 92.5% to 100%). The researchers noted that this is, to their knowledge, the first systematic review to examine the diagnostic accuracy of POCUS for NF. “POCUS has good sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of NF,” Dr. Marks and colleagues wrote. “POCUS should be considered as an adjunct to the initial clinical decision making for the diagnosis of NF.”
