NECROTIZING FASCIITISTHE FLESH-EATING BACTERIA

WHAT IS IT?- NECROTIZING FASCIITIS IS THE FLESH-EATING BACTERIA CAUSED BY INFECTION.

- THE BACTERIA SPREADS RAPIDLY IN A HOST AND DESTROYS THE SOFT TISSUE INCLUDING SKIN, MUSCLES, TENDONS, LIGAMENTS, NERVES, FASCIA, AND BLOOD VESSELS.

- THE MAIN BACTERIA CAUSING NF INCLUDE A STREPTOCOCCUS (GROUP A STREP), KEBSIELLA, CLOSTRIDIUM, E. COLI, STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREAS, AND AEROMONAS HYDROPHILA WITH A STREPTOCOCCUS BEING THE MOST COMMON CAUSE.

- MOST COMMON CAUSES INCLUDE TRAUMA TO THE SKIN, SURGERY, AND INSECT BITES

ORIGIN?- NF WAS FIRST REPORTED BY HIPPOCRATES IN THE 5TH CENTURY B.C

- IN 1871, JOSEPH JONES STUDIED MORE THAN 2600 CASES OF THE DISEASE DURING THE CIVIL WAR AND PROVIDED THE FIRST REAL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DISEASE

- IN 1883, JEAN-ALFRED FOURNEIR DESCRIBED A CONDITION KNOWN AS FOURNEIR’S GANGRENE; NF THAT ATTACKS THE GENITAL AREA

- DR. B. WILSON WAS THE FIRST TO USE THE TERM NECROTIZING FASCIITIS IN 1952 WHICH IS STILL THE MOST ACCURATE AND CONCISE DESCRIPTION OF THE DISEASE.

SX AND AFFECTED AREAS

- SIGNS AND SX INCLUDE: SMALL, RED, PAINFUL BUMPS: BLACK SPOTS ON THE SKIN, FEVERS, ACHES, CHILLS, AND PAIN THAT IS DISPROPORTIONATE TO EXAM FINDINGS.

- THE TISSUE BECOMES BLACK AND NECROTIC AND MAY BREAK OPEN AND WEEP FLUID (WITHIN AN HOUR OF ONSET OF INFECTION) AND SOON AFFECTS DEEPER TISSUE

- THE MOST COMMON AREAS AFFECTED ARE THE ABDOMINAL WALL, PERINEUM, AND THE EXTREMITIES.

TREATMENT

- HOSPITALIZATION AND IV THERAPY ALONG WITH BLOODWORK AND TISSUE BX

- INSERTION OF A BREATHING TUBE, IV ABX, AND DRUGS TO SUPPORT THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

- HYPERBARIC CHAMBER- CAN INHIBIT/STOP ANAEROBIC BACTERIAL GROWTH AND PROMOTE TISSUE RECOVERY

- DEBRIDEMENT, SKIN GRAFTS, AND AMPUTATION