1. By Hayden Duerson

2. A quick overview Necrotizing Fasciitis is a bacterial infection in which the bacteria kill the skin and underlying muscle and connective tissues. It is very rare but very serious and may lead to death

3. Causes Necrotizing fasciitis is caused by a few different kinds of bacteria which include Group A Streptococci, Staphylococci as the most common Clostridium spp,Bacteroides and Peptostreptococcus are often cultured from the infected area. The bacteria can be aerobic or anaerobic and enter in to the skin through some form of physical wound.

4. Signs of infection After some form of physical injury, a small reddish bump will appear in the skin. If left untreated it will become a bronze or purple colored patch. It will then progress to the skin turning black and dying after which the skin will break open.

5. The symptoms The symptoms mirror that of the flu If left untreated the patient will go in to shock and then die

6. Treatment Powerful broad range antibiotics must be given through an iv The wound must be opened and drained and infected tissue must be removed If it is really serious donor antibodies are given to help fight the infection Occasionally the bacteria will be stronger because it is anaerobic and the patient must be given hyperbaric oxygen therapy

7. How to prevent Necrotizing fasciitis There is no true way to prevent the disease Good hygiene and cleaning wounds can help to lower the risk of getting the disease It is not usually contagious but you should avoid contact with people who are infected with MRSA due to the fact that MRSA may lead to Necrotizing fasciitis if left unchecked.

8. The prognosis Necrotizing fasciitis has a very high mortality rate of 25% even with treatment but the combined morbidity and mortality rate is between 70-80% Some forms of the disease have mortality rates as high as 75% There are anywhere between 500 and 1000 cases per year in the united states Most infected patients do not have previous medical conditions and are generally healthy

9. Works cited http://www.trauma.org/images/image_library/fasciitis.jpg http://www.antimicrobe.org/photolink/Necrotizing_Fascii tis1.jpg http://www.antimicrobe.org/photolink/Necrotizing_Fascii tis1.jpg https://www.google.com/health/ref/Necrotizing+soft+tiss ue+infection https://www.google.com/health/ref/Necrotizing+soft+tiss ue+infection http://www.medicinenet.com/necrotizing_fasciitis/page7. htm http://www.medicinenet.com/necrotizing_fasciitis/page7. htm http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1054438-overview http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cYSo06Zxvv8/RsUcfFCeK3I/AA AAAAAAACI/cRDjlxr8hdk/s400/NYC+EMSnecrotizingfasc iitis.jpg http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_cYSo06Zxvv8/RsUcfFCeK3I/AA AAAAAAACI/cRDjlxr8hdk/s400/NYC+EMSnecrotizingfasc iitis.jpg