Necrotising fasciitis is caused by bacteria. It can be caused by different types of bacteria, but most commonly it is caused by the Group A Streptococcus bacteria.
What causes necrotizing fasciitis?
Necrotizing fasciitis is a bacterial infection. Bacterial infections can arise in different ways, but in the case of necrotizing fasciitis it almost always occurs because a certain type of bacteria has entered the body from an outside source.
There are many varieties of bacteria and some of these can lead to the necrotizing fasciitis infection. As mentioned above, the Group A Streptococcus bacteria is normally responsible for necrotizing fasciitis. This is the same bacteria that cause a sore or ‘strep’ throat.
There are other types of bacteria that can cause necrotizing fasciitis. Amongst them include klebsiella, clostridium, E. coli, staphylococcus aureus and aeromonas hydrophila.
Necrotizing fasciitis tissue death
But just because someone has a strep throat does not mean he/she will get necrotizing fasciitis. It is only if the bacteria get into the body’s deep tissues (called the subcutaneous tissues) that it can result in necrotizing fasciitis.
This happens because once the bacteria get into the deep tissues they will begin to multiply. The reproduction process causes a chemical to be released into the body. This is poisonous and damages the tissue, leading to a disrupted blood supply, tissue break down and eventually tissue death.
It is for this reason that necrotizing fasciitis is often called the ‘flesh-eating disease’. As the tissue breaks down and dies it looks as though something is eating away at the flesh. But in actual fact the toxins released by the bacteria are disrupting the blood supply. The lack of blood supply causes gangrene and tissue necrosis.
How do the bacteria get in to the body?
Sometimes there will be no known cause of necrotizing fasciitis. In most cases, however, the patient will have recently sustained some form of trauma. This can be something very obvious such as having undergone surgery. Or it can be something very subtle, such as suffering a paper cut, a nick while doing the gardening or even an insect bite.
This opening in the skin gives the bacteria an opportunity to get inside the body and travel to the subcutaneous tissues.
What are the symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis?
Once the bacteria begin to multiply and cause an infection, the person will begin to feel unwell and feverish. There will be an intense pain at the site of infection and the skin will soon become red. If you have these symptoms, medical practitioners must investigate the possibility of necrotizing fasciitis. If they fail to do so, causing you to suffer complications, there could be grounds for a compensation claim.
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