An essay describing the "flesh eating disease" (necrotizing fasciitis)

The Flesh Eating Disease

When thinking of bacteria that can cause a disgusting and horrible infection, it would make the most sense to think it was very rare, only effecting those who live in very poor and filthy environments. However, Streptococus pyogenes, (the bacteria that causes Necrotizing fasciitis) is extremely common. Infact, about 5% of Americans are carrying the bacteria in their throats, you could be one of them. Some of these people may develop less serious infections such as strep throat, or even scarlet fever. Necrotizing fasciitis is usually in alliance with a cut or a deep bruise.

Necrotizing Fasciitis, often referred to as, "The Flesh Eating Disease" is basically what its sobriquet says; it is a disease that will eat away your flesh. The bacteria itself is a non-sporeforming coccus that occurs in chains or pairs of cells. Several different factors can be connected to the success of the pathogen in a host.

Isolated bacteria - Micrococcus luteus

English: 43-year-old Caucasian male with necrotizi...

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This includes things like rapid multiplication of the bacteria and quick spreading throughout the human. The S. pyogens (Streptococus pyogens) have many bane and virulence parts, some assist in escaping phagocytosis and fooling the human's immune system. The surface of the S. pyogens is extremely intricate and diverse; it has many of the same antigens that can be found in various human cells, such as cardiac or skeletal muscle. Some of the antigens mimic each other; this causes the immune system to become overpowered.

Various exotoxins are also released which have varying effects on the human's body including rash and Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS). STSS is very similar to necrotizing fasciitis in the sense that starts out attacking mainly the skin and soft tissue, but STSS has even greater risk for the person because they will develop shock and failure of multiple...