Necrotizing fasciitis

Necrotizing fasciitis is a serious but rare infection of the deeper layers of skin and subcutaneous tissues (fascia). Many types of bacteria can cause necrotizing fasciitis (eg. Group A streptococcus, Vibrio vulnificus, Clostridium perfringens, Bacteroides fragilis), of which Group A streptococcus is the most common cause.

Other bacterial strains

Recently (April 2005), a rarer but even more serious form of the disease has been observed to be increasing in frequency, with several cases having been found especially in California. In these cases, the bacterium causing it was a strain of Staphylococcus aureus (i.e. staphylococcus, not streptococcus as stated above) which is resistant against methicillin, the antibiotic one would usually use. (See Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus for details.)

Related Topics:
2005 - California - Staphylococcus aureus - Staphylococcus - Streptococcus - Methicillin - Antibiotic - Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

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A fictional virus with symptoms like necrotizing fasciitis featured in the modern horror classic Cabin Fever.

Related Topics:
Virus - Horror - Cabin Fever

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