"Throughout our lives, we digest bacteria in our food, water, even breath it in our air,and who knows where else," stated Gary Huffnagle, a microbiologist and internist at the University of Michigan. Due to this, recent studies have proven that the human body contains more bacteria cells than actual human cells. "According to Carolyn Bohach, a microbiologist at the University of Idaho. Despite their large numbers, bacteria does not take up that much room because they are far smaller than those of human cells" (Tortora). Although that sounds pretty unpleasant, its actually not that bad and sometimes bacteria can work to our benefit. Until, bacteria that does not seem life-threatening enter the body through what is not their normal form and cause a horrifying disease that forces your body's' tissue to rapidly die enabling one to see the line between life and death (Wenner). Necrotizing fasciitis, the condition that is known for its rapid necrotizing process of subcutaneous fat, superficial deep fascia, and superficial fascia and most commonly used as "flesh-eating disease." This infection begins in the tissues right under the skin, keeping it intact but secondary gangrene follows, then spreads along the flat layers of tissue (recognized as the fascia) that divide different layers of soft tissue. This occurs when the non lethal bacteria enter the body through a cut that can be as small as a paper cut, insect bite, or even an abrasion, causing a deleterious infection (Conrad).
The importance in knowing necrotizing fasciitis is the fact that whatever the infecting organism, once it reaches the fascia, the spread of the infection can be so rapid that the infection becomes arduous to stop even with surgical debridement and antimicrobial drugs. In addition, understanding that not just one form of bacteria is the cause for necrotizing fasciitis, yet streptococcus pyogenes is one of the leading factors and the most common.
