Necrotizing Fasciitis Research Paper
Type II Necrotizing Fasciitis
(necr/o death fasc/o band, muscle/ itis inflammation)
Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) , commonly known as flesh-eating disease or flesh-eating bacteria, is a rare infection of the deeper layers of skin and subcutaneous tissues (layer of fat and connective tissue), easily spreading across the fascial plane within the subcutaneous tissue. (muscle and fat are broken down)
It is life threatening.
Necrotizing fasciitis is most commonly caused by a strain of A streptococcus, the same bacterium that causes streptococcus pharyngitis or strep throat. The bacteria can enter the body through cuts such as surgical wounds from an episiotomy (an incision through the perineum (area between the pubic symphysis and coccyx made to enlarge the vagina and assist in child birth) or a herniorrhaphy (sutured hernia) for example. In rare cases the bacteria produces poisons that damage the soft tissue below the skin and cause more dangerous infection that can spread quickly along the tissue of the muscle. The bacteria can also travel through the blood to the lungs and other organs. With this said, the actual “death” of the skin can occur far from …show more content…
The skin becomes erythematous (redness of the skin due to dilation and congestion of capillaries), tender, edematous (excessive accumulation of serous fluid in the tissue) and localized pain. Later, what appears to be bruising occurs, but this is the fat and muscle beginning to necrotize. As the infection and necrosis spread throughout the fascial layers, vasoconstriction (decrease in the caliber of blood vessels) and thrombosis (formation of a blood clot) lead to edema (swelling caused by fluid in the tissue) and further diminish circulation, resulting in hypoxemia (deficient oxygenation of the blood) and necrosis (state of death) of the fascia, skin, soft tissue, and
(necr/o death fasc/o band, muscle/ itis inflammation)
Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) , commonly known as flesh-eating disease or flesh-eating bacteria, is a rare infection of the deeper layers of skin and subcutaneous tissues (layer of fat and connective tissue), easily spreading across the fascial plane within the subcutaneous tissue. (muscle and fat are broken down)
It is life threatening.
Necrotizing fasciitis is most commonly caused by a strain of A streptococcus, the same bacterium that causes streptococcus pharyngitis or strep throat. The bacteria can enter the body through cuts such as surgical wounds from an episiotomy (an incision through the perineum (area between the pubic symphysis and coccyx made to enlarge the vagina and assist in child birth) or a herniorrhaphy (sutured hernia) for example. In rare cases the bacteria produces poisons that damage the soft tissue below the skin and cause more dangerous infection that can spread quickly along the tissue of the muscle. The bacteria can also travel through the blood to the lungs and other organs. With this said, the actual “death” of the skin can occur far from …show more content…
The skin becomes erythematous (redness of the skin due to dilation and congestion of capillaries), tender, edematous (excessive accumulation of serous fluid in the tissue) and localized pain. Later, what appears to be bruising occurs, but this is the fat and muscle beginning to necrotize. As the infection and necrosis spread throughout the fascial layers, vasoconstriction (decrease in the caliber of blood vessels) and thrombosis (formation of a blood clot) lead to edema (swelling caused by fluid in the tissue) and further diminish circulation, resulting in hypoxemia (deficient oxygenation of the blood) and necrosis (state of death) of the fascia, skin, soft tissue, and