Necrotizing
fasciitis, more commonly know as the flesh-eating disease, is a
potentially deadly infection if left untreated or misdiagnosed (2).
The infection begins in the skins superficial fascia, a band of
connective tissue that stabilizes muscles and other internal
organs. Fascia is very widespread throughout the human body,
providing a basic mechanism for the
bacteriato
grow and spread rapidly. Once anchored in the fascial planes, the
infecting bacteria cause the surrounding skin, fat, muscle, and
other tissues to die. Early symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis
include fever, thirst, nausea, sore throat, and minor pain around
the affected area. These symptoms progress quickly and become more
critical and life-threatening. They include
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Type I is the
polymicrobial type, in which multiple types of bacteria interact.
Type II specifically involves the bacterium group A Streptococcus,
the most common and deadly cause of necrotizing fasciitis. Type III
is closely related with the bacterium Clostridium, and usually
appears in patients with colon cancer or leukemia. Lastly, type IV
comprises all of the lesser known causes, such as various fungi and
a few other types of bacteria (3). Encompassing all four
classifications, the most well-known strains of bacteria that cause
necrotizing fasciitis include group A Streptococcus, Staphylococcus
auerus, Klebsiella, Escherichia coli, and Clostridium (2). Knowing
the specific type of bacteria involved is vital, because it
determines the infections lethality and optimal treatment
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GAS is
associated with many other common illnesses, such as pharyngitis,
and scarlet fever (2). It is also a gram-positive bacterium,
meaning the bacterium itself has a thick cell wall made of the
protein peptidoglycan. This extra protein layer makes it more
susceptible to antibiotics. While this susceptibility aids in
treatment once necrotizing fasciitis is diagnosed, these bacteria
are carried every day by humans in our noses, throats, and skin,
showing no physical symptoms. Once an object pierces the body,
infection is more likely because this bacterium is so widely
prevalent. When GAS causes necrotizing fasciitis, it can also occur
simultaneously with Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS). This
additional, and sometimes fatal condition STTS, accelerates the
metastasis of necrotizing fasciitis (1). Since GAS is the most
known cause of necrotizing fasciitis, researchers are actively
trying to target and prevent this strand directly. Through
extensive genetic analysis, a natural single nucleotide mutation
has been identified and is associated with decreased presentation
of necrotizing fasciitis in humans. Identifying what specific genes
involving GAS result in an infectious outcome is highly useful. In
the future, genome editing techniques could allow for the
deactivation of genes directly related to necrotizing fasciitis,
resulting in fewer diagnosed cases
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