Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Media reports have popularized the term "flesh-eating
bacteria" to refer to a very rare but serious bacterial infection known as
necrotizing fasciitis. Necrotizing fasciitis is an infection that starts in the
tissues just below the skin and spreads along the flat layers of tissue (known
as fascia) that separate different layers of soft tissue, such as muscle and
fat. This dangerous infection is most common in the arms, legs, and abdominal
wall and is fatal in
30%-40% of cases.
Although necrotizing fasciitis may be caused by an
infection with one or more than one bacterium, in most cases the term
flesh-eating bacteria has been
applied to describe infections caused by the bacterium known as Streptococcus
pyogenes. The term flesh-eating has been used because the bacterial infection
produces toxins that destroy tissues such as muscles, skin, and fat.
Streptococcus pyogenes is a member of the group A streptococci, a group of bacteria that are responsible
for mild cases of sore throat (pharyngitis) and
skin infections, as well as rare, severe illnesses such as toxic shock syndrome
and necrotizing fasciitis. Most infections with group A streptococci result in
mild illness and may not even produce symptoms.
Necrotizing fasciitis is a term that describes a disease condition of rapidly spreading infection, usually located in fascial planes of connective tissue that results in tissue necrosis (dead and damaged tissue). The disease occurs infrequently, but it can occur in almost any area of the body. Although many cases have been caused by
group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (Streptococcus pyogenes), most investigators now agree that many different bacterial genera and species, either alone or together (polymicrobial) can cause this disease. Occasionally, mycotic (fungal) species cause necrotizing fasciitis.
This condition was described by several people in the 1840s to 1870s, and Dr.
B. Wilson in 1952 first termed the condition necrotizing fasciitis. It is likely that the disease has been occurring for many centuries before it was first described in the 1800s. Currently, there are many names that have been used loosely to mean the same disease as necrotizing fasciitis: flesh-eating
bacterial infection or disease; suppurative fasciitis; dermal, Meleney, hospital, or
Fournier's gangrene; and necrotizing cellulitis. Body regions frequently have the term "necrotizing" placed before them to describe the initial localization of necrotizing fasciitis (for
example, necrotizing colitis, necrotizing arteriolitis), but they all refer to the same disease process in the tissue. Important in understanding necrotizing fasciitis is the fact that whatever the infecting organism(s), once it reaches and grows in connective tissue, the spread of the infection can be so fast (investigators suggest some organisms can progress about 3 centimeters per hour) that the infection becomes difficult to stop with both antimicrobial drugs and surgery.
Mortality (death) rates have been reported as high as 75% for necrotizing fasciitis associated with Fournier's (testicular) gangrene. Patients with necrotizing fasciitis have an ongoing medical emergency that often leads to death or disability if it is not promptly and effectively treated.
Picture of necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease)
MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria causes skin infections with the following signs and symptoms: cellulitis, abscesses, carbuncles, impetigo, styes, and boils. Normal skin tissue doesn't usually allow MRSA infection to develop. Individuals with depressed immune systems and people with cuts, abrasions, or chronic skin disease are more susceptible to MRSA infection.
Cellulitis is an acute spreading bacterial infection below the surface of the skin characterized by redness, warmth, inflammation, and pain. The most common cause of cellulitis is the bacteria Staph (Staphylococcus aureus).
Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degrees F. (37 degrees C.), in practice a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C.). Fever is part of the body's own disease-fighting arsenal: rising body temperatures apparently are capable of killing off many disease- producing organisms.
Sepsis (blood poisoning) is a potentially deadly infection with signs and symptoms that include elevated heart rate, low or high temperature, rapid breathing and/or a white blood cell count that is too high or too low and has more than 10% band cells. Most cases of sepsis are caused by bacterial infections, and some cases are caused by fungal infections. Treatment requires hospitalization, IV antibiotics, and therapy to treat any organ dysfunction.
Cuts, scrapes, and puncture wounds are common, and most people will experience one of these in their lifetime. Evaluating the injury, and thoroughly cleaning the injury is important. Some injuries should be evaluated by a doctor, and a tetanus shot may be necessary. Treatment will depend upon the severity of the injury.
Gangrene may result when blood flow to a tissue is lost or not adequate to keep the tissue alive. There are two types of gangrene: wet and dry. All cases of wet gangrene are infected by bacteria. Most cases of dry gangrene are not infected. If wet gangrene goes untreated, the patient may die of sepsis and die within hours or days. Dry gangrene usually doesn't cause the patient to die. Symptoms of dry gangrene include numbness, discoloration, and mummification of the affected tissue. Wet gangrene symptoms include swelling, pain, pus, bad smell, and black appearance of the affected tissue. Treatment depends upon the type of gangrene and how much tissue is compromised by the gangrene.
Group A streptococcal infections are caused by group A streptococcus, a bacteria that causes a variety of health problems, including strep throat, impetigo, cellulitis, erysipelas, and scarlet fever. There are more than 10 million group A strep infections each year.
Cellulite is caused by fat deposits that distort connective tissues under the skin, resulting in a dimpled appearance of the skin. Gender, skin thickness, heredity, and the amount and distribution of body fat all influence the presence and visibility of cellulite.
Bug bites and stings have been known to transmit insect-borne illnesses such as West Nile virus, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Lyme disease. Though most reactions to insect bites and stings are mild, some reactions may be life-threatening. Preventing bug bites and stings with insect repellant, wearing the proper protective attire, and not wearing heavily scented perfumes when in grassy, wooded, and brushy areas is key.
MRSA means methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.
The majority of MRSA infections are classified as CA-MRSA (community acquired) or HA-MRSA (hospital- or health-care-acquired).
MRSA infections are transmitted from person to person by direct contact with the skin, clothing, or area (for example, sink, bench, bed,
and utensil) that had recent physical contact with a MRSA-infected person.
The majority of CA-MRSA starts as skin infections; HA-MRSA can begin an infection of the skin, a wound (often a surgical site), or a location where medical devices are placed (catheters, IV lines, or other devices).
Cellulitis, abscess, or draining pus is often one of the first signs and symptoms of MRSA infections.
Most MRSA infections are diagnosed by culture and antibiotic sensitivity testing of
Staphylococcus aureus bacteria isolated from an infected site; a
PCR test is also...
Media reports have popularized the term "flesh-eating
bacteria" to refer to a very rare but serious bacterial infection known as
necrotizing fasciitis. Necrotizing fasciitis is an infection that starts in the
tissues just below the skin and spreads along the flat layers of tissue (known
as fascia) that separate different layers of soft tissue, such as muscle and
fat. This dangerous infection is most common in the arms, legs, and abdominal
wall and is fatal in
30%-40% of cases. 
Infectious Disease RSS
Healthy Living Tips
