What is Necrotising fasciitis?

18-09-2024

08:54 AM

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1 min read
What is Necrotising fasciitis? Blog Image

Overview:

A 59-year-old British man narrowly escaped death after a seemingly minor spider bite that turned into a life-threatening disease named Necrotising fasciitis.

About Necrotising fasciitis:

  • Necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating disease, is a rare and life-threatening bacterial infection that affects the tissue under your skin called fascia.
  • "Necrotizing" means causing tissue death, and "fasciitis" refers to fascia inflammation, which is tissue under the skin. 
  • It includes two types:
    • Type I, or polymicrobial: This type happens when more than one bacteria, usually a mix of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, causes the infection.
    • Type II, or monomicrobial: The monomicrobial form is typically caused by one bacteria, group A streptococcus or Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.
  • The infection may get into the body through:
    • cuts and scratches
    • burns and scalds
    • insect bites
    • surgery
    • injecting drugs
  • It is a form of necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI). These life-threatening infections affect the skin, muscles, and soft tissue and cause patches of tissue to die.
  • Necrotising fasciitis infection typically travels along the fascial plane, which has a poor blood supply, leavingthe overlying tissues initially unaffected, potentially delaying diagnosis and surgical intervention.
  • It spreads quickly and aggressively in an infected person, causes tissue death at the infection site, and can be deadly if not treated right away.
  • Symptoms:
    • Early symptoms of this condition include signs and symptoms that resemble those of the flu.
    • Later signs and symptoms include Reddened and/or discolored skin,Swelling of affected tissues, Unstable blood flow, Blisters filled with bloody or yellowish fluid, Tissue death (necrosis), Low blood pressure, Sepsis, etc.
  • Treatment:
    • Currently, there isn’t a vaccine to prevent necrotizing fasciitis.
    • It’s treated with antibiotics and surgery to remove damaged tissue.

Q1: What are anaerobic bacteria?

Anaerobic bacteria are bacteria that do not live or grow when oxygen is present. In humans, these bacteria are most commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract. They play a role in conditions such as appendicitis, diverticulitis, and perforation of the bowel.

Source: British Man Develops Flesh-Eating Disease After Being Bitten By Deadly Spider