Flesh eating bacteria : narcotizing fasciitis

Flesh eating bacteria:

Flesh eating bacteria or Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare infection of subcutaneous tissues caused by bacteria. It is a serious disease that causes serious skin infection and rapidly kills soft tissues. The word necrotizing means “causing the death of tissues”. The bacteria that cause these type of infection are includes-

·       Group A Streptococcus
·       Klebsiella
·       Clostridium
·       Escherichia coli
·       Staphylococcus aureus
·       Aeromonas hydrophilia etc.

Among these, group A streptococcus is the most common cause of necrotizing fasciitis.

Necrotizing fasciitis spread rarely from person to person:

Necrotizing fasciitis occurs randomly around the cells and spread rarely person to person. But most people suffers from other health problems such as-
·       kidney infection
·       cancer
·       inflammatory disease
·       GI tract disorders
·       Diabetes
·       Disorder of immune system etc.

Symptoms:

·       Infection on various part of skin
·       Pain or soreness
·       Blister or black spot o the skin
·       Ulcers
·       Fever
·       Chills
·       Fatigue or tiredness
·       Vomiting and nausea
·       Gas formation in the tissue
·       Liver disease
·       Diarrhea

Actual cause of infection:

In most cases, bacteria mainly cause this infection. Other organisms rarely do this such as fungi. Mainly group A Streptococcus are found to cause this disease most. Clostridium may find in gas infected tissues. In the infected area Pseudomonas, E.coli, and Klebsiella are also found. This may cause the polymicrobial infection that one type of bacteria aids the survival and growth of another type of bacteria. Other organism may rarely cause such as Aeromonas hydrophilia was source of this disease in 24 years old who cut her thigh in a homemade zip line accident in U.S. E. coli mostly causes in hypoxia tissue and produce toxic factors where other damage connective tissues.

Treatment:

At first to prevent infection we should give intravenous antibiotics referred by a doctor. But bacterial toxin can destroy tissues and reduce blood flow so we have to go rapid surgical exploration and remove the death tissue as soon as possible. Some doctors believe that multiple antibiotics should be used at the same time to protect the patient. If necrotizing fasciitis is suspected, a surgeon needs to be consulted. Tissue culture must be needed for identification of specific bacteria. Treatment such as insertion of a breathing tube, intravenous administration of fluids and drug to support the cardiovascular system may be required. Careful surgical technique in the site that is easily contaminated is required. The physician needs to use sterile technique when doing surgery.