flesh eating disease

what is flesh eating disease? What is the Symptoms flesh eating disease and how we can prevent this flesh eating disease? Necrotizing fasciitis refers to a rapidly spreading infection, usually located in fascial planes of connective tissue that results in tissue death (necrosis).

  flesh-eating disease or flesh-eating bacteria syndrome, is a rare infection of the deeper layers of skin and subcutaneous tissues, easily spreading across the fascial plane within the subcutaneous tissue. The most consistent feature of Necrotizing Fasciitis was first described in 1952 by Wilson, as necrosis of the subcutaneous tissue and fascia with relative sparing of the underlying muscle.

Necrotizing fasciitis progresses rapidly, having greater risk of developing in the immunocompromised due to conditions such as diabetes or cancer. It is a severe disease of sudden onset and is usually treated immediately with surgical debridement and high doses of intravenous antibiotics,with delay in surgical treatment being associated with higher mortality.

Many types of bacteria can cause necrotizing fasciitis (e.g., Group A streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes), Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens, Bacteroides fragilis, Aeromonas hydrophila). The disease is classified as Type I (polymicrobial, due to a number of different organisms) or Type II (monomicrobial, due to a single infecting organism).The majority of cases of necrotizing fasciitis are polymicrobial,with only 15% of cases being Type II  Such infections are more likely to occur in people with compromised immune systems secondary to chronic disease.

Historically, most cases of Type II infections have been due to group A streptococcus and staphylococcal species. However, since as early as 2001, another serious form of monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis has been observed with increasing frequency, caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Treatment of an infection caused by flesh-eating bacteria involves antibiotics and surgical debridement of the wound areas as well as supportive measures such as insertion of a breathing tube, intravenous administration of fluids, and drugs to support the cardiovascular system.