Learn Something: Necrotizing Fasciitis

Sorry about all of my learn somethings lately being really gross. This is fascinating stuff okay!?

If you have hypochondria or are generally easily grossed out, maybe don't continue.

So this week I've been studying up a bit on a lovely little infection called 'Necrotizing Fasciitis' or, as it is more commonly known, "flesh eating bacteria."

-'Necrotizing' means "causing the death of tissues" and fascia is just a layer of fibrous tissue that surrounds and connects certain muscles, etc. in the body.

Essentially, NF is a very rare bacteria that will go through and destroy the soft tissues of the infected person. For the mental health of readers, I will not add in any gross pictures. Believe me, they are not enjoyable to look at.

This infection can be caused by a string of different bacteria, the most common including group A Streptococcus (group A strep), Klebsiella, Clostridium, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Aeromonas hydrophila, to name a few. Group A strep is seen as the most common cause of necrotizing fasciitis.

Generally speaking, the most common way for this specific bacteria to enter a person's body is through an open cut or wound. Most of the time, people who become infected also have other significant illnesses that make it hard for their body to fight back. (Kidney disease,  cancer, diabetes, etc.)

Once the bacteria takes hold, it is extraordinarily fast acting. There was a story that was featured on the show Strange Ways To Die of a woman who shaved her legs with a very old razor before a night out and got a cut. The next morning she woke up to find half of her face had been eaten away and she died soon thereafter. It is speculated that the bacteria traveled through her system and broke through a pimple on the surface of her face. Generally speaking though, the bacteria is more likely to affect the entrance site.

In fact, this can be so fast acting that often times, removal of the effected limb is required to save the rest of the body. Various antibiotics will first be pumped through the body and then amputations will commence if necessary. 

'Flesh eating bacteria' is actually a bit of a misnomer. In fact, the bacteria does not eat the tissues at all! They simply destroy the tissue by emitting toxins which contain  streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins.

Here is an image found on Wikipedia. The caption reads: Micrograph of necrotizing fasciitis, showing necrosis (center of image) of the dense connective tissue, i.e. fascia, interposed between fat lobules (top-right and bottom-left of image). H&E stain

Pretty crazy, right? Don't worry though, this infection is extremely rare. As long as you are cautious and hygienic in how you take care of your wounds and prepare food, you should be good to go. 

Symptoms can be hard to pin down, at first it may seem just like a regular illness. A patient will vomit, have diarrhea and a fever, etc. There may also be some swelling and purple/redness at the effected site, and patients will report that they feel more pain than what the wound looks like it would produce.

If let get far enough, Necrotizing Fasciitis can cause organ failure and death. The mortality rate is 73% without treatment.

This stuff is super creepy but super interesting.
More information can be found
Here and Here.