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. Therefore, doctors may not wait for test results if they think a patient might have necrotizing fasciitis. Necrotizing fasciitis can lead to sepsis , shock, and organ failure. It can also result in life-long complications from loss of limbs or severe scarring due to surgically removing infected tissue. Even with treatment, up to 1 in 3 people with necrotizing fasciitis die from the infection. Six out of every 10 people who get both necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome at the same time die from their infections.
Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome is another very serious illness caused by group A strep. It causes the body to go into shock and involves low blood pressure and multiple organ failure.
While anyone can get necrotizing fasciitis, it is rare. Most cases of necrotizing fasciitis occur randomly. It is very rare for someone with necrotizing fasciitis to spread the infection to other people. For this reason, doctors usually do not give preventive antibiotics to close contacts of someone with necrotizing fasciitis. Since , approximately to cases occur each year in the United States. This is likely an underestimate. According to ABCs data, the number of annual group A strep necrotizing fasciitis infections reported to ABCs does not appear to be rising.
Back to Health A to Z. Necrotising fasciitis is a rare but serious bacterial infection that affects the tissue beneath the skin and surrounding muscles and organs fascia. It's sometimes called the "flesh-eating disease", although the bacteria that cause it do not "eat" flesh, but release toxins that damage nearby tissue.
Necrotising fasciitis can start from a relatively minor injury, such as a small cut, but gets worse very quickly and can be life threatening if it's not recognised and treated early on. They may not be obvious at first and can be similar to less serious conditions, such as flu , gastroenteritis or cellulitis. If left untreated, the infection can spread quickly through the body and cause symptoms such as dizziness , weakness and confusion. Blood tests and scans may be carried out to find out what's causing your symptoms, although a diagnosis of necrotising fasciitis can usually only be confirmed by having an operation to examine the affected tissue.
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. For example, kissing or sharing drinking cups, forks, spoons or cigarettes. There is no vaccine to prevent group A streptococcal infections.
Antibiotics are recommended if you have close contact with someone who has necrotizing fasciitis caused by group A streptococcus for example, if you live in the same household.
Since this severe form of streptococcal infection can progress so rapidly, the best approach is to get medical attention as soon as symptoms occur.
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