Necrotising Soft Tissue Infections

Must not donate.

Eyes: If no orbital or periorbital necrotising soft tissue infection and corneas stored in organ culture – refer to DCSO.

All tissues: If donor has been treated and fully recovered – accept.

Necrotising soft tissue infections (NSTIs) include necrotising forms of fasciitis, myositis and cellulitis. It is a life-threatening bacterial infection that causes necrosis of subcutaneous tissue, fascia, or muscle, typically after some superficial wound infection. It is fortunately very rare.

Donors who had NSTIs at the time of death are excluded from tissue donation as a precaution as the effect of endotoxins on the quality and safety of tissues is not known. There are reports of orbital or periorbital NSTIs, but not bulbar involvement. Cornea donation is excluded from deceased donors with ocular/periocular NSTIs, as a precaution, though the transmission of the causative bacteria is minimal/low risk when using organ culture.

Donors can be accepted if the infection was resolved at the time of death.

Title of entry changed. Expanded to include Discretionary and Additional Information sections.