How does flesh eating bacteria work

The pain can sometimes occur at a distance from the wound. It can spread quickly up the affected arm, leg or other body part. This kind of infection can cause gangrene — the death of tissue in a part of the body. Necrotizing fasciitis is caused by a number of different bacteria. One of these is group A streptococcus. These bacteria are found on the skin or in the nose and throat of healthy people. These bacteria can also cause strep throat, scarlet fever, skin infections and rheumatic fever.

It is not fully understood why group A streptococcus bacteria sometimes cause necrotizing fasciitis. However, these bacteria make toxins that destroy body tissue directly.

The bacteria also cause the body's immune system to destroy its own tissue while fighting the infection. Group A streptococcus bacteria spread by contact with saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose or throat of an infected person. The infected person may or may not have symptoms. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, the bacteria spread through droplets in the air. You can become infected when you breathe in these droplets, touch objects contaminated with them, and then touch your eyes or mucous membranes or put your hands in your mouth.

The bacteria can also spread through close personal contact. Former student Joe E. Ramirez, Jr. The College of Architecture program has numerous veterans enrolled who credit their professors with outstanding leadership. Subscribe Press Room Search. Share Flesh-eating bacteria can live in lakes, oceans, swimming pools and even hot tubs. Related Stories.

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.

If ingested, usually through eating raw or undercooked oysters, the symptoms of diarrhea, cramping, fever, chills, and vomiting usually appear within 24 hours.

The symptoms usually last only 3 days. If Vibrio vulnificus is exposed to open wounds, it can cause a rash that changes skin color. Although anyone is susceptible to a vibrio illness, those with the following conditions are particularly vulnerable :. In a recently published study in the Annals of Internal Medicine , researchers found that between and there was only one case of Vibrio vulnificus infection reported at a hospital in the Delaware Bay region, where the water is often colder than ideal for the bacteria.

However, the study authors found that after further investigation, there were at least five cases in the same Delaware Bay region, just between and In all 5 cases, the patients were men between the ages of 38 and 64 who presented to the hospital with necrotizing fasciitis after marine life exposure at work and through consumption.

All of the men involved had preexisting conditions. Two had hepatitis, two had previous injuries while crabbing, and another had diabetes — all things that put you at higher risk for infection from Vibrio vulnificus. While risk factors do increase your chances of contracting Vibrio vulnificus , the authors attribute the increase in cases in the Delaware Bay partly to climate change.

Despite the news headlines, you can still enjoy the beach, oysters, and the coastal waters. However, a few safety tips can decrease the chance of you contracting the illness. The CDC offers the following tips to reduce your risk of vibriosis:. Although everybody should be cautious of the risk factors for contracting vibriosis, those with conditions that put them at a higher risk should be especially careful.

If you or someone you know have recently been exposed to raw or undercooked oysters and started to experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and the characteristic rash, you should seek immediate medical attention.