Necrotizing fasciitis

• العربية • Català • Dansk • Deutsch • Eesti • Ελληνικά • Español • Euskara • فارسی • Français • 한국어 • Bahasa Indonesia • Íslenska • Italiano • مصرى • Nederlands • 日本語 • Norsk bokmål • ଓଡ଼ିଆ • Polski • Português • Русский • Simple English • Slovenščina • Српски / srpski • Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски • Suomi • Svenska • Tagalog • Татарча / tatarça • ไทย • Türkçe • Українська • Tiếng Việt • 中文 • ˈ n ɛ k r ə ˌ t aɪ z ɪ ŋ ˌ f æ ʃ i ˈ aɪ t ɪ s/ or ˌ f æ s-/ Usual onset Sudden, spreads rapidly Causes Multiple types of Based on symptoms, Prevention Treatment ~30% mortality Frequency 0.7 per 100,000 per year Necrotizing fasciitis ( NF), also known as flesh-eating disease, is a bacterial Typically, the infection enters the body through a break in the skin such as a cut or Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is involved in up to a third of cases. Necrotizing fasciitis may be prevented with proper Necrotizing fasciitis occurs in about 0.4 people per 100,000 per year in the U.S., and about 1 per 100,000 in Western Europe. Signs and symptoms [ ] Symptoms may include fever, swelling, and complaints of excessive pain. The initial skin changes are similar to However, those who are immunocompromised (have cancer, use • Necrotizing fasciitis type III caused by Cause [ ] Risk factors [ ] More than 70% of cases are recorded in people with at least one of these clinical situations: immunosuppression, diabetes, alcoholism/drug abuse/smoking, malignancies, and chronic systemic diseases. For reasons...

Reproduced with permission from © DermNet New Zealand and © Waikato District Health Board www.dermnetnz.org 2023. Several different types of bacteria can be responsible for causing necrotizing fasciitis, and there are a few different types of the disorder, including type I, II, and III. Other names commonly used for necrotizing fasciitis include: • Type I: This polymicrobial type of necrotizing fasciitis involves more than one type of bacteria and often occurs in those with diabetes and other health disorders, as well as in the elderly population. • Type II: This type of necrotizing fasciitis—known as hemolytic streptococcal gangrene—is characterized by isolation of S. pyogenes with or without other bacterial species. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common species found in coinfection cases. Type II necrotizing fasciitis may occur in any age group, including young, healthy people, as well as older folks and those with health conditions. Type II necrotizing fasciitis is often referred to as a type of “flesh-eating bacteria.” • Type III: This type of necrotizing fasciitis is caused by clostridium and is referred to as gas gangrene. It usually occurs after a person has surgery or has undergone a significant injury with deep wounds. It results in gas under the skin, which makes a crackling sound that has been medically coined “crepitus.” Heroin users, injecting a specific type of the drug called “black tar heroin,’’ are prone to becoming infected with this type of necrotizin...

What Is Flesh-Eating Bacteria (Necrotizing Fasciitis)? Flesh-eating bacteria ( Necrotizing fasciitis spreads quickly and aggressively in an infected person. It causes tissue death at the infection site and beyond. Every year, between 600 and 700 cases are diagnosed in the U.S. About 25% to 30% of those cases result in death. It rarely happens in children.. Flesh-Eating Bacteria Causes and Risk Factors Necrotizing fasciitis is commonly caused by group A streptococcus (GAS) bacteria. That's the same type of bacteria that causes Necrotizing fasciitis happens when these types of bacteria infect the superficial fascia, a layer of connective tissue below the skin. Flesh-eating bacteria transmission The bacteria that cause necrotizing fasciitis can enter the body through: • Surgical wounds • Puncture wounds or other injury • • Minor cuts • • Abrasions In some cases, it is unknown how the infection began. Once it takes hold, the infection rapidly destroys muscle, skin, and fat tissue. Having a weakened • • • • • • • Chronic • • Peripheral • • Use of injectable or IV drugs Flesh-Eating Bacteria Symptoms The early symptoms of an infection with flesh-eating bacteria usually appear within the first 24 hours of infection. Symptoms are similar to other conditions like • Serious • • • Symptoms often include a combination of the following: • Increasing pain in the general area of a minor cut, abrasion, or other skin opening. • Pain that is worse than would be expected from the appearance ...

Overview Skin, fat and fascial tissue under the microscope reveals necrosis (tissue death). What is necrotizing fasciitis? Necrotizing fasciitis is a severe rapidly spreading bacterial infection that can cause death. The word “necrotizing” refers to something that causes the death of something else. The word “fasciitis” refers to Necrotizing fasciitis is a form of necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI). Some people call necrotizing fasciitis or any NSTI the “flesh-eating disease.” Other NSTIs are necrotizing myositis and necrotizing cellulitis. What are the different types of necrotizing fasciitis? There are two types of necrotizing fasciitis: polymicrobial (also called Type I) and monomicrobial (also called Type II). Polymicrobial necrotizing fasciitis is an infection caused by more than one type of bacteria, usually mixed anaerobic and aerobic bacteria. Monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis is usually caused by group A Streptococcus or Staphylococcus aureus. Who does necrotizing fasciitis affect? There are certain people who are at greater risk of developing necrotizing fasciitis. These are people who have: • Cuts in their skin or mucous membranes, including those made during surgical procedures. • • • • Problems with your immune system or your vascular system. • Cancer. • Pregnancy. How common is necrotizing fasciitis? The number of cases of necrotizing fasciitis is estimated to be 0.3 to 15 per 100,000 people, but this is likely less than the true number. Between 2010 ...

What is necrotizing fasciitis? Necrotizing fasciitis is a type of soft tissue infection. It can destroy the tissue in your skin and muscles as well as subcutaneous tissue, which is the tissue beneath your skin. Necrotizing fasciitis is most commonly caused by an infection with group A Streptococcus, commonly known as “flesh-eating bacteria.” This is the fastest moving form of the infection. When this infection is caused by other types of bacteria, it typically doesn’t progress as quickly and isn’t quite as dangerous. This bacterial skin infection is rare in healthy people, but it’s possible to get this infection from even a tiny cut, so it’s important to be aware of the symptoms if you’re at risk. You should see your doctor immediately if you have symptoms or believe that you may have developed the infection. Because the condition can progress quickly, it’s vital to treat it as early as possible. The first symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis may not seem serious. Your skin may become warm and red, and you may feel as if you’ve pulled a muscle. You may even feel like you simply have the flu. You can also develop a painful, red bump, which is typically small. However, the red bump doesn’t stay small. The pain will become worse, and the affected area will grow quickly. There may be oozing from the infected area, or it may become discolored as it decays. Blisters, bumps, black dots, or other Other symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis include: • • • • • • • To get necrotizing fascii...