| Necrotizing fasciitis commonly known as "flesh-eating | | | | severe (such as the result of surgery), minor, or even |
| bacteria." Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare bacterial | | | | non-apparent. The affected skin is classically, at first, |
| infection that can destroy skin and the soft tissues | | | | very painful without any grossly visible change. With |
| beneath it, including fat and the tissue covering the | | | | progression of the disease, tissue becomes swollen, |
| muscles (fascia). The syndrome may be caused by a | | | | often within hours. Diarrhea and vomiting are common |
| variety of agencies, and often is actually a combination | | | | symptoms as well. Inflammation does not show signs |
| of several infection germs attack at a time. Many | | | | right away if the bacteria is deep within the tissue. If it |
| types of bacteria can cause necrotizing (eg Group A | | | | is not deep, signs of inflammation such as redness and |
| Streptococcus, Vibrio vulnificus, Clostridium perfringens, | | | | swollen or hot skin show very quickly. Skin color may |
| Bacteroides fragilis), whose Group A streptococcal | | | | progress to violet and blisters may form, with |
| (also known as Streptococcus pyogenes) is the most | | | | subsequent necrosis (death) of the subcutaneous |
| common cause. Necrotizing fasciitis is caused by | | | | tissues.Treatment Treatment of necrotizing fasciitis is |
| several kinds of bacteria. The most common cause is | | | | most effective if the infection is recognized in time. |
| infection by a group A streptococcal (GAS) bacterium, | | | | Antibiotics and surgical removal of dead tissue are |
| most often Streptococcus pyogenes, which also | | | | required. If the tissue destruction is widespread, |
| causes other infections such as strep throat and | | | | extensive surgery or amputation might be the only |
| impetigo. Usually the infections caused by these | | | | way to prevent death.While early diagnosis and |
| bacteria are mild. But in rare cases the bacteria | | | | treatment are the key to preventing devastating tissue |
| produce poisons (toxins) that can damage the soft | | | | destruction, physicians and patients often fail to |
| tissue below the skin and cause a more dangerous | | | | recognize necrotizing fasciitis and its severity. To help |
| infection that can spread quickly along the tissue | | | | prevent any kind of infection, wash your hands often, |
| covering the muscle (fascia).SymptomsThe infection | | | | and always keep cuts, scrapes, burns, sores, and bites |
| begins locally, at a site of trauma, which may be | | | | clean. |