Necrotizing Soft tissue Infection

What is necrotizing soft tissue infection? As carefully studied in the tissue culture microscope, the necrotizing soft tissue infection is considered as a serious type of tissue infection that can affect the skin, subcutaneous fat, the muscle sheath or fascia, and the muscle.

As monitored under the tissue culture microscope, it can cause gangrene, tissue death, systemic disease, and death. It is sometimes referred to as the flesh eating bacteria, the soft tissue gangrene or necrotizing fasciitis. What are the causes, incidence, and risk factors for this infection?

Fasciitis or necrotizing subcutaneous infection can be caused by a variety of bacteria which include aerobic bacteria or oxygen-using bacteria or anaerobic or oxygen-avoiding bacteria. These different types of bacteria can be studied under the microscope. A very grave and usually fatal fasciitis is caused by a deadly species of streptococcus known as the flesh-eating bacteria

. This type of infection develops when the bacteria enter the body through minor skin injury or abrasion where they begin to grow and release toxins that can directly kill tissues as noted in the tissue culture microscope. They can interfere with the blood flow to the tissue as well as digest materials in the tissue which quickly spreads the bacteria. What is more dreadful is that they can cause widespread effects like shock.

What are the symptoms for this infection?

The Infection may start as a small reddish painful spot or bump on the skin. This spot on the skin can quickly change to a painful bronzed or purplish patch that expands fast. As observed under the tissue culture microscope, the center may become black and dead or necrotic. As monitored with the use of the tissue culture microscope, the skin may break open and the visible expansion of the infection may occur in less than an hour.

There are various symptoms for the infection which include fever, sweating, chills, nausea, dizziness, profound weakness, and finally shock. If not treated immediately death can occur rapidly.

What are the tests for the infection?

One test for the presence of the necrotizing soft tissue infection is the appearance in the skin and underlying tissues of reddish spot as well as the presence of gangrene or black or dead tissue as examined with the help of the tissue culture microscope. When these occur, imaging tests, such as CT scans, are sometimes helpful

. Usually a patient will be diagnosed in the operating room by a surgeon. A gram stain and culture of drainage or tissue from the area must be examined closely with the aid of the tissue culture microscope to determine which type of bacteria is causing the infection.

What is the suggested treatment for the infection?

Most often potent, broad-spectrum antibiotics must be prescribed and administered through the vein or intravenous. This is done to possibly control the infection by quickly raising the blood levels of the antibiotic. Surgery is necessary to open and drain infected areas as well to remove dead tissue.

The doctor may also require skin grafts after the infection is controlled. In instances where the infection is in a limb and cannot be contained or controlled, amputation may be an option. Sometimes pooled immunoglobulins or antibodies are administered by vein to help fight the infection.

If the organism is an anaerobe, the patient may be placed in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. This is a device in which the patient is given 100% oxygen at several atmospheres of pressure. What is the prognosis for necrotizing soft tissue infection?

Prognosis can be variable. Several factors influence the outcome such as the type of infecting organism, rate of spread, susceptibility to antibiotics, and the timing of diagnosis. Scarring and deformity are common with this type of disease. Despite the aggressive treatment using potent antibiotics fatalities are high. If left untreated the infection spreads fast and causes death.

As this infection is severe and may be life-threatening, it is important to consult a health care provider immediately.