Fig. 1

Plasma YKL-40 levels at admission (baseline), day 1, day 2 and day 3 in a NSTI vs. age- and sex-matched controls, b 30-day survivors vs. non-survivors, c septic shock vs. non-shock and d presence of Group A Streptococcus in blood and/or tissue. Note the two-segmented y-axis. Data are presented as medians with interquartile range. Comparisons performed by Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test. Septic shock was defined as s-lactate > 2 and use of vasopressor/inotropic agents. Microbiological findings were classified according to our protocol, in short, presumed pathogenic agent isolated at primary operation or immediately prior, up to three days after diagnosis. Group A streptococcus includes both monomicrobial GAS infections and polymicrobial infections including GAS. N = 12 patients had no positive microbiological findings