Flesh-Eating Bacteria: Are You at Risk for Necrotizing Fasciitis?

The so-called "flesh eating" bacterial infection spreads fast and deep. Infection can spread as fast as one inch per hour, with little change in the surface skin. And while it is rare, it can be deadly. It destroys tissue and the layers of fat and muscle beneath an initially minor injury. This makes it appear that flesh is being eaten away. So dramatic is the damage, people infected with this disease often make the news. Flesh-eating bacterial disease, also called necrotizing fasciitis, must be spotted quickly and treated aggressively.

This infection usually starts in a minor scratch, cut or burn, often on the arms or legs. But it's like no ordinary injury. Symptoms quickly get worse as the bacteria release rapidly spreading toxins into the body. The pain is typically much worse than the surface injury would suggest. In most cases, the sore becomes purple or red and the area swells within an hour or two of the original injury. You develop fever, chills and feel very sick.

What makes an ordinary injury turn deadly?
Though it is rare, anyone can get flesh-eating bacterial disease. But some things seem to raise the risk for infection in general and for necrotizing fasciitis in particular.

They include:

• Diabetes
• Circulation problems such as peripheral vascular disease
• Weakened immune system
• Chronic kidney disease
• Cancer
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Recent surgery
• Burns
• Poor nutrition
• Chicken pox

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or steroids, may also alter the immune response. This can cause a minor infection to become serious.

One rare type of necrotizing fasciitis enters minor skin injuries during exposure to seawater or marine animals.

How is flesh eating bacterial illness treated?
Treatment for necrotizing fasciitis requires aggressive treatment with antibiotics. This is usually done in an intensive care unit in the hospital. Often, emergency surgery to remove the dead and infected tissue is needed to stop spread of the infection.