Recently being discussed about a woman who exposed the suffering flesh-eating bacteria infection. What should we do for early prevention of this disease? Here are some ways that we must know in order to avoid the flesh-eating bacteria infection.

 

A person with necrotizing fasciitis needs to go to the hospital for treatment as soon as the condition is suspected. The person will usually be treated in the intensive care unit (ICU).

 

Early treatment of necrotizing fasciitis is critical. The sooner treatment begins, the more likely the person will recover from the infection and avoid serious consequences, such as limb amputation or death.

Treatment may include:

• Surgery that removes infected tissue and fluids to stop the spread of infection.
• Medicines (antibiotics and intravenous immunoglobulin) to kill the bacteria causing the infection.
• Procedures to treat complications such as shock, respiratory problems, and organ failure.
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which can help prevent tissue death and promote healing.

Surgery

Surgery (surgical debridement) is almost always needed to remove the infected dead tissue resulting from necrotizing fasciitis. This can also reduce the number of bacteria in the body, remove toxins, and stop the spread of infection. Most people need several operations to fully control the infection.

Removing limbs (amputation) or organs may be necessary to save the person’s life, depending on how severe the infection is and where it has spread.

 

Medications

Intravenous (IV) antibiotics such as clindamycin and penicillin are used to kill some kinds of bacteria that can cause necrotizing fasciitis (usually streptococci and staphylococci) and stop the production of toxins that cause the illness. More than one antibiotic (broad-spectrum therapy) may be needed, especially when the person has diabetes or injury to the intestines.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) may be used along with surgery and antibiotics to help treat necrotizing fasciitis. IVIG boosts the body’s immune system and reduces the effects of bacterial toxins. It is not yet clear whether treatment with IVIG helps cure necrotizing fasciitis.

 

Oxygen therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which provides your body with high levels of oxygen, may help control infection, promote healing, and reduce the need for surgery.2, 3 For this treatment, the person with necrotizing fasciitis is placed in a chamber and the air in the chamber is enriched with oxygen. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not routinely done to treat necrotizing fasciitis.

 

Treatment for complications

Other types of treatment for complications caused by necrotizing fasciitis may be needed. The kind of treatment depends on what part of the body is affected and what problems the infection is causing.

Shock, kidney failure, and breathing problems caused by damage to the lungs (respiratory distress syndrome) are the most common complications of necrotizing fasciitis. Many people who have necrotizing fasciitis will need dialysis to treat kidney failure. And about one-half will need a machine (ventilator) to help with breathing until their health improves.

Sometimes we have to really pay attention to detail for our health, it is necessary for early prevention of the disease can be done. Because almost all disease starts with small things that sometimes we are not aware of. For that this time we will discuss more about Flesh-Eating Bacteria that can be done early prevention.

 

Media reports have popularized the term “flesh-eating bacteria” to refer to a type of 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 commonly 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.

 

Sometimes, other bacteria or even a combination of different bacteria may produce necrotizing fasciitis. A case was reported in 2012 of a young woman who suffered a zip-lining accident on a river in West Georgia. She contracted an infection with the bacteria Aeromonas hydrophila, which produced a necrotizing infection that resulted in the loss of a leg and part of her abdomen.

 

The symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis include redness, swelling, and pain in the affected area. Blisters may be seen in the involved area of skin. Fever, nausea, vomiting, and other flulike symptoms are common. Another characteristic of necrotizing fasciitis is that the symptoms develop very rapidly, usually within 24 hours after a wound in the skin has allowed the bacteria to invade the tissues beneath the skin. The pain is described as being more severe than would be expected from the appearance of the wound. Late symptoms can include death (gangrene) of affected areas with scaling, discoloration, or peeling of the skin.

 

Many of the people who have developed necrotizing fasciitis have been in good health before developing the condition. People with chronic medical conditions (for example diabetes and cancer) or who have weakened immune systems are at an increased risk of developing necrotizing fasciitis. Recent wounds (including surgical incisions) and recent viral infections that cause a rash (such as chickenpox) also confer an increased risk.

 

Necrotizing fasciitis is treated with antibiotics, and early treatment is critical. Hospitalization, usually with treatment in the intensive-care unit (ICU), is required. Surgery to remove infected fluids and tissue may be necessary, along with medications to treat shock and other potential complications.