Necrotizing Fasciitis (flesh-eating bacteria) Facts
(from the Centers for Disease Control)

Necrotizing fasciitis (occasionally described by the media as "the flesh-eating bacteria") destroys muscles, fat, and skin tissue.

It is caused by group A streptococcus, which is a bacterium often found in the throat and on the skin. People may carry group A streptococci in the throat or on the skin and have no symptoms of illness. Most GAS infections are relatively mild illnesses such as "strep throat," or impetigo. On rare occasions, these bacteria can cause other severe and even life-threatening diseases like necrotizing fasciitis.

Severe, sometimes life-threatening, GAS disease may occur when bacteria get into parts of the body where bacteria usually are not found, such as the blood, muscle, or the lungs. These infections are termed "invasive GAS disease." Two of the most severe, but least common, forms of invasive GAS disease are necrotizing fasciitis and Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome.

About 10,000 cases of invasive GAS disease occurred in the United States in 1998. Of these, about 600 were STSS and 800 were necrotizing fasciitis. In contrast, there are several million cases of strep throat and impetigo each year.

Early signs and symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis:

• Fever
• Severe pain and swelling
• Redness at the wound site

Progression of Infection
(from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

The infection rarely starts with a sore throat. It more often begins at a site of minor, or sometimes no apparent, trauma. The affected skin is very painful, red, hot and swollen. Skin color may progress to violet and blisters may form, with subsequent necrosis (death) of subcutaneous tissues. Patients with necrotizing fasciitis typically have a fever and appear very ill. More severe cases progress within hours, and the death rate is high. Neocrotizing fasciitis is diagnosed by either blood cultures or aspiration of pus from tissue. Surgical exploration may be necessary. Early medical treatment is critical. Treatment often includes intravenous penicillin and clindamycin, along with aggressive surgical debridement (removal of infected tissue). Limb amputation may be necessary.

[Back to Healthy Living Resources]

[More Healthy Living stories]