What is necrotizing fasciitis flesh eating bacteria

Anyone can get necrotising fasciitis, including young and otherwise healthy people, but it tends to affect older people and those in poor general health.

If you're in close contact with someone who has necrotising fasciitis, you may be given a course of antibiotics to reduce your risk of infection. Page last reviewed: 10 April Next review due: 10 April Necrotising fasciitis. Symptoms of necrotising fasciitis The symptoms of necrotising fasciitis develop quickly over hours or days. Early symptoms can include: a small but painful cut or scratch on the skin intense pain that's out of proportion to any damage to the skin a high temperature fever and other flu-like symptoms After a few hours to days, you may develop: swelling and redness in the painful area — the swelling will usually feel firm to the touch diarrhoea and vomiting dark blotches on the skin that turn into fluid-filled blisters If left untreated, the infection can spread quickly through the body and cause symptoms such as dizziness , weakness and confusion.

When to get medical help Necrotising fasciitis is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. Treatments for necrotising fasciitis Necrotising fasciitis needs to be treated in hospital. The main treatments are: surgery to remove infected tissue — this may be repeated several times to ensure all the infected tissue is removed amputation of affected limbs may be necessary sometimes antibiotics — usually several different types are given directly into a vein supportive treatment — including treatment to control your blood pressure, fluid levels and organ functions People with necrotising fasciitis often need to be looked after in an intensive care unit and may need to stay in hospital for several weeks.

Outlook for necrotising fasciitis Necrotising fasciitis can progress very quickly and lead to serious problems, such as blood poisoning sepsis and organ failure. They may take a biopsy , which is a small sample of the affected skin tissue for examination. Blood tests can show if your muscles have been damaged.

Treatment begins with strong antibiotics. These are delivered directly into your veins. The tissue decay means that the antibiotics might not be able to reach all of the infected areas. In some cases, amputation of one or more limbs may be necessary to help stop the spread of the infection. The outlook depends entirely on the severity of the condition. Early diagnosis is crucial for this dangerous, life-threatening infection.

The earlier the infection is diagnosed, the earlier it can be treated. Without prompt treatment, this infection can be fatal. Other conditions that you have in addition to the infection can also have an impact on the outlook. Those who recover from necrotizing fasciitis may experience anything from minor scarring to limb amputation.

It may require multiple surgical procedures to treat and then additional procedures such as delayed wound closure or skin grafting. Each case is unique. Your doctor will be able to give you more specific information about your individual case. However, you can reduce your risk with basic hygiene practices. Wash your hands frequently with soap and treat any wounds promptly, even minor ones.

If you already have a wound, take good care of it. Change your bandages regularly or when they become wet or dirty. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC lists hot tubs, whirlpools, and swimming pools as examples of places you should avoid when you have a wound. Treating the infection early is very important to avoid complications.

Cellulitis is a common bacterial skin infection. Learn more about its symptoms, how it's treated, and how you can prevent it in the first place. You also may need X-rays , a CT scan , or an MRI to look for injury to your organs or to find out how much the infection has spread. Early treatment of necrotizing fasciitis is critical. The sooner treatment begins, the more likely you will recover from the infection and avoid serious complications, such as limb amputation or death.

You may be treated in the intensive care unit ICU at the hospital. Necrotizing fasciitis is very rare. Bacteria that cause the disease usually don't cause infection unless they enter the body through a cut or other break in the skin.

If you have been in close contact with someone who has necrotizing fasciitis, your doctor may give you an antibiotic to help reduce your chances of getting the infection.

If you notice any symptoms of infection such as pain, swelling, redness, or fever after you've been in close contact with someone who has necrotizing fasciitis, see your doctor right away. To help prevent any kind of infection, wash your hands often. And always keep cuts, scrapes, burns, sores, and bites clean.

Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: E. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.

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Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. Topic Contents Topic Overview Credits. Top of the page. Necrotizing Fasciitis Flesh-Eating Bacteria. Topic Overview What is necrotizing fasciitis? Your risk of getting this infection is higher if you: Have a weak immune system.