Necrotizing Fasciitis: A Bacterial Infection Of

Acting on a hunch, he called for a second opinion who also believed it was a severe case of cellulitis, but ordered a biopsy of her leg tissue to prove Gawande’s hunch wrong. To their surprise, his past experience with a patient and seeing a flesh-eating virus up front paid off, Bratton did indeed have necrotizing facscitis and because of Gawande, her case was caught early enough that her life as well as her leg were

In S. pyogenes-associated necrotizing fasciitis, the bacteria first invade host fascia before spreading and causing more invasive damage. Initial GAS invasion can occur through three primary pathways: 1) preceding superficial infection; 2) direct inoculation; or 3) hematogenous seeding from a previous injury site. After colonization, GAS spread through the typically sterile fascial planes that separate muscle groups, which are only loosely held together by connective tissue. The streptococci then release several proteases and other virulence factors that cause localized tissue damage. Simultaneously, this dissemination prompts the arrival of acute inflammatory host cells; the response of polymorphouclear leukocytes (PMNs), in particular, can also contribute to the tissue damage characteristic of necrotizing fasciitis. Once the

Streptococcus Pyogenes is a very diverse bacteria with effects ranging from nothing or a mild sore throat, to flesh eating disease, causing death in 40-60% of patients. The major and most common illnesses associated with this bacteria

Hospital acquired infection is also known as nosocomial infections, which can be caused by viruses, bacteria or fungal pathogen. It is an infection that a patient can acquire while they are in hospital or another health care facility for a reason other than the infection. So most of the time, when a patient get nosocomial infection, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) does not cover that treatment, and it will be the hospital charge, because the infection is caused by a poor conditions at the hospital or the health care facility, or perhaps because hospital staff did not following proper procedures. One infection that a patient can develop in hospital or health care facility is kin ulcer, which is also known as skin pressure injury.

Necrotizing fasciitis Staphylococcus auerus can occur in many forms, one being methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus auerus (MRSA). This specific strand of bacterium that has evolved to become antibiotic resistant. This makes MRSA necrotizing fasciitis almost impossible to treat with antibiotics alone, and often requires extensive surgical procedures. In The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers highlighted MRSA as a root cause of numerous cases of monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis reported in Los Angeles in 2003 (7).

There are three kinds or groups of streptococcus A, B, and C group. Group A streptococcus are known as streptococcus pyogenes, which are also known as S pyogene. In 1884 the organism was named s pyogene by the scientist Rosebach (Sat Sharma MD, 2004). Though the bacteria wasn't named till 1884 it was first described by Billroth in 1874. Streptococcus is known to cause the diseases rheumatic fever, scarlet fever, tonsillitis, pneumonias, sinusitis, and

Necrotizing fasciitis is a bacterial infection that attacks the soft tissue and the fascia. It is commonly known as the “flesh-eating bacteria”. The term flesh- eating bacteria is not really the word for the disease, as the bacteria does not actually eat the tissue. It also progresses very quickly, greater risk of developing in immunocompromised patients due to conditions such as diabetes and cancer. As the bacterial can be developed in many ways, after abdominal surgery, tiny scratch, C-section, simple cut, or rash, to even a simple blood draw. To get the bacteria it must be introduced into the body, by either direct contact with a person carrying the bacteria or because that person is carrying the bacteria

GAS is associated with many other common illnesses, such as pharyngitis, and scarlet fever (2). It is also a gram-positive bacterium, meaning the bacterium itself has a thick cell wall made of the protein peptidoglycan. This extra protein layer makes it more susceptible to antibiotics. While this susceptibility aids in treatment once necrotizing fasciitis is diagnosed, these bacteria are carried every day by humans in our noses, throats, and skin, showing no physical symptoms. Once an object pierces the body, infection is more likely because this bacterium is so widely prevalent. When GAS causes necrotizing fasciitis, it can also occur simultaneously with Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS). This additional, and sometimes fatal condition STTS, accelerates the metastasis of necrotizing fasciitis (1).

days but with the antibiotic treatment can be reduced to 2-4 days. Bacterial conjunctivitis is highly communicable and is easily passed from person to person. 4. Natural defenses that help prevent eye infections include: the blinking reflex, tears, barriers such as the eyelid and orbital septum, presence of leukocytes and Langerhans’ cells also help as defense mechanisms. 5. There are preventative measures that could be taken to prevent the spread of this infection. Such measures are washing hands frequently, disinfecting common areas within the class room and simply educating the students on how the infection is spread. Case 1.5 1. This patient had necrotizing fasciitis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. The presence of the gram-positive cocci growing in chains is the evidence of Streptococcus pyogenes. To consider the condition to be caused by Clostridium perfringens or gangrene there would need to be gram-positive rod-shaped bacteria obtained from the wound. 2. The below the knee amputation was the best solution for this type of infection because necrotizing fasciitis progresses and spreads rapidly, delaying surgical intervention increases the risk of mortality. 3. This bacterium is generally transmitted through person-to-person contact and sometimes can be found in unpasteurized milk. In this case the transmission was most likely related to the

Necrotizing fasciitis is still a very real and very big problem even in 2016. It is a “rapidly progressive inflammatory infection of the fascia, with secondary necrosis of the subcutaneous tissues” (Edlich 2016). It commonly occurs as a complication from surgery or an existing medical condition. The three most important bacteria to cause necrotizing fasciitis are polymicrobial, group A streptococcal, and clostridial myonecrosis. Cases of necrotizing fasciitis have been increasing in recent years due to so much of the population being immunocompromised due to diseases or special issues. These include but are not limited to “diabetes mellitus, cancer, alcoholism, vascular insufficiencies, organ transplants, HIV infection, or neutropenia” (Edlich 2016). The most common age of patients is between 38-44 years with it rarely

Streptococcal exotoxins, also known as superantigens, are central mediators of the systematic effects with GAS (Group A Streptococci) infections. They are able to stimulate a large proportion of the T-cell population and produce an uncontrollable response with towering amounts of cytokines. Twelve superantigens produced by GAS have been discovered, and abundant GAS strain contain genes encoding four to six different

A 63-year-old male patient is admitted for an infected surgical incision of fasciotomy in the right low extremity blow the knee. He is medically diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and femoral popliteal bypass surgery is performed to treat the blocked area of femoral artery in the leg. Postoperatively acute compartment syndrome occurred in the affected leg. Fasciotomy is used to treat muscular bleeding inside that increases pressure in the compartment.

What a great article with lots of information on Necrotizing fasciitis (NF). I have similar experience with NF as you which is none. I found the review and article of “Necrotizing fasciitis: How reliable are the cutaneous signs?” very interesting as a future practitioner. Your review outlined the main points of the article and provided some great insight to NF.

Also, contraction is very possible through the skin via abrasions both small and large. This type of infection would be contracted from exposure to other people harboring the bacteria, bacteria in the air, or bacteria on the injured person. Being infected this way can rarely result in necrotizing fasciitis. It is also very possible, albeit very rare, that Streptococcus pyogenes can be transmitted through food, most notably milk and its products. This form of infection is usually caused by improper or lack of pasteurization of the milk. The bacteria that are responsible hardly ever come from an outside source, and are usually present within the cow when infected milk is produced. However, these two other methods of transmission are far less likely than the usual human-to-human respiratory infections. (6,2,1)

Considering the size of the lesion and the crusty oozing bumps that formed from the blisters, it raises the suspicion of a bacterial skin infection known as impetigo. It is most common in children between 2 and 5 years old. Most cases of impetigo are caused by two bacterial infecting the skin. These bacterial are known as staphylococcal aureus or streptococcal pyogenes. The bacterial is highly contagious and can be spread from person to person. Lance D. developed a sore nostril from constant wiping her nose, the bacteria got inside the skin and became infected. There are mainly two types of impetigo non-bullous and bullous. The non-bullous is usually the one that is found most frequently on the face around the nose and the mouth. It can also