Necrotizing soft tissue infection is a rare but very severe type of bacterial infection that can destroy the muscles, skin, and underlying tissue. Necrotizing refers to something that causes tissue death.
Alternative NamesNecrotizing fasciitis; Fasciitis - necrotizing; Flesh-eating bacteria; Soft tissue gangrene; Gangrene - soft tissue
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsMany different types of bacteria can cause this type of infection. A very severe and usually deadly form of necrotizing soft tissue infection is due to Streptococcus pyogenes, which is sometimes called "flesh-eating bacteria."
Necrotizing soft tissue infection develops when the bacteria enters the body, usually through a minor cut or scrape. The bacteria begins to grow and release harmful substances (toxins) that:
The first sign of infection may be a small, reddish, painful spot or bump on the skin. This quickly changes to a very painful bronze- or purple-colored patch that grows rapidly. The center may become black and die off. The skin may break open and ooze fluid. The wound may quickly grow in less than an hour.
Symptoms may include general ill feeling, fever, sweating, chills, nausea, dizziness, profound weakness, and finally shock. Without treatment, death can occur rapidly.
Signs and testsHow the skin and tissue look can help the doctor diagnose a necrotizing soft tissue infection. Often a patient will be diagnosed in the operating room by a surgeon. Imaging tests, such as CT scans, are sometimes helpful.
Tests performed on blood, fluids, or tissue from the area may determine the bacteria that is causing the infection.
TreatmentPowerful, broad-spectrum antibiotics must be given immediately through a vein (IV). Surgery is required to open and drain infected areas and remove dead tissue. Sometimes donor immunoglobulins (antibodies) are given by vein to help fight the infection.
Skin grafts may be needed after the infection goes away. If an arm or leg infection cannot be controlled, amputation of the limb may be considered.
If the bacteria is determined to be an oxygen-avoiding organism (anaerobe), the patient may receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This involves placing the patient in a chamber that delivers 100% oxygen at high pressure.
Expectations (prognosis)How well a patient does depends on:
Scarring and deformity are common with this type of disease. The Death Rate is high, even with aggressive treatment and powerful antibiotics. Untreated, the infection spreads and causes death.
ComplicationsThis disorder is severe and may be life threatening, so contact your health care provider immediately if symptoms of infection occur around a skin injury, including:
Always clean the skin thoroughly after a cut, scrape, or other skin injury.
Necrotizing soft tissue infection is a rare but very severe type of bacterial infection. It can destroy the muscles, skin, and underlying tissue. The word "necrotizing" refers to something that causes body tissue to die.
Alternative NamesNecrotizing fasciitis; Fasciitis - necrotizing; Flesh-eating bacteria; Soft tissue gangrene; Gangrene - soft tissue
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsMany different types of bacteria can cause this infection. A very severe and usually deadly form of necrotizing soft tissue infection is due to Streptococcus pyogenes, which is sometimes called "flesh-eating bacteria."
Necrotizing soft tissue infection develops when the bacteria enters the body, usually through a minor cut or scrape. The bacteria begins to grow and release harmful substances (toxins) that kill tissue and affect blood flow to the area. As the tissue dies, the bacteria enters the blood and rapidly spreads throughout the body.
SymptomsSymptoms include:
Other symptoms can include:
Your doctor or nurse may diagnose this condition by looking at your skin. You may be diagnosed in an operating room by a surgeon.
Tests that may be done include:
Immediate treatment is needed to prevent death. Treatment includes:
Other treatments may include:
How well you do depends on:
This disease commonly causes scarring and skin deformity.
Death can occur rapidly without proper treatment.
ComplicationsThis disorder is severe and may be life threatening, so contact your health care provider immediately if symptoms of infection occur around a skin injury, including:
Always clean the skin thoroughly after a cut, scrape, or other skin injury.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 11/22/2011
Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
It is a rare soft tissue bacterial infection commomly called "Flesh Eating Bacteria".
The uvula is a projection from the soft palate.
No, they will eventually heal.
Bursitis.
synovial sarcoma
It is a rare soft tissue bacterial infection commomly called "Flesh Eating Bacteria".
Necrotizing fasciitis is a bacterial skin infection that spread rapidly among the soft tissue. It is not contagious, unless there is an open wound or sore involved.
Paronychia is swelling and infection of soft tissue around a nail.
The term 'flesh eating' diesease is a type of very rare 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 seperate different layers of soft tissue, such as muscle and fat. This dangerous infection is common to the arms, legs and abdominal wall and is fatal in 30%-40% of the cases.
Hepar Sulph
there are layers of soft tissue?
Soft tissue prominence is the growth of soft tissue that is undefined. Such tissue is not related to the structure of the body or a normal organ.
Caseous necrosis is a type of cellular death in which the dead tissue is soft, white or yellow in appearance and sometimes smells bad. This can be caused by anything that kills a section of tissue, although it is more commonly associated with infection, particularly bacterial infection.
Soft tissue is anything that's not hard tissue, i.e. bone. So soft tissue damage includes bruises, stab wounds, gun shots, burns etc. SO yes, soft tissue damage is painful.
The reason that brain tissue is soft is because that is how God the creator chose to design it. Brain tissue is soft because it has the skull to protect it.
Mesenteric and omental soft tissue nodules could have a number of causes, usually metastatic cancer. In a patient with a known soft tissue sarcoma elsewhere in the body, this finding would likely represent metastases from this sarcoma. If the patient did not have a history of soft tissue sarcoma, this finding could be several things, and soft tissue sarcome would not be at the top of my list.
The soft tissue inside of the bone is called "marrow."