The ABCs of Flesh-Eating Bacteria Quiz

Answer: Necrotizing Fasciitis

The first part of the name "necrotizing" indicates something causes body tissue to die and the second part of the name "fasciitis" indicates an inflammation of the fascia, which is a layer of fibrous tissue.

Atopic dermatitis is a type of eczema.
Epidermolysis bullosa simplex is an inherited skin-disorder which causes blistering.
Keratosis pilaris is the scientific name for the condition more commonly known as 'chicken-skin' or 'follicular keratosis'.

Answer: It is actually a misnomer.

The meaning of the name of this organism is known to be incorrect, as the bacteria is not really eating body tissue.
The bacteria actually release toxins which lead to the destruction of body tissue (skin and muscle).

Answer: false

If the 'flesh-eating disease' is not treated immediately and adequately, it can lead to severe disabilities and/or even death. If the condition is left completely untreated it will almost inevitably be fatal and eventually lead to death.
Sadly, even if the infection has been treated, there is still a mortality rate of around 30%.

Answer: Dr. B. Wilson in 1952

In 1871 Joseph Jones first broached the subject of this disease, he had researched more than 2,600 cases of the syndrome during the American Civil War.
Also, in 1883 Jean-Alfred Fournier a Parisian doctor gave a speech on Fournier's gangrene (which the condition is called when the genitals are affected).
However, Dr. B. Wilson was the first person to coin the disease 'necrotizing fasciitis', which is still used presently in modern medicine, and is acknowledged to be the most concrete and brief definition.

Answer: The immunocompromised

This syndrome rarely develops in people with a normal general condition.
Over 70% of the patients are noted to be people with an impaired immune system, like people who suffer from HIV, cancer, diabetes, alcoholism and intravenous drug abuse, chronic liver or renal disease and maybe tuberculosis.
In children it could follow after a chickenpox infection.

Answer: Antibiotics (IV) and surgical removal of the damaged tissue.

The most important and adequate routine procedure generally involves intravenously administered antibiotic therapy (as standard antibiotics are often, even at the first stage of this disease, no longer effective), and it is also mainly essential to surgically remove wasted tissue to control further spreading of the infection.
Unfortunately, on some acute occasions, amputation of affected body parts may even be crucial.

Answer: A small, red, sore bump on the skin, which develops into an extremely painful bruise-like area, which grows fast and the centre may become black.

The 'milder' symptoms, like the small sore red bumps on the skin, normally appear within the first day of infection.
By the second day the patient would definitely realise there is something seriously wrong, as during the next few hours, these sore spots then very speedily increase in size, become even more painful, and the centre of these sores may blacken. It is very likely that the patient simultaneously experiences flu-like symptoms and extreme thirst.
On the third to fifth day the infected person may break out in huge dark-coloured wheals with blistering, the blood pressure will soon drop dangerously low, shortly after the patient would suffer a septic shock, and sooner or later they would probably fall into a coma.

Answer: Lucien Bouchard, the 27th Premier of Quebec

Other famous victims include the Nobel prize winner in physics in 2001 Eric Allin Cornelle, who lost his left arm and shoulder in 2004 to this disease; former minority owner of the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks, Jeff Moorad, who was infected in 1997 and has undergone 7 surgeries since then, but has now fully recovered; former prime minister of the Netherlands, Jan Peter Balkenende, contracted the disease in 2004 but fully recovered.

Heather Mills lost her leg in a collision with a police motorcycle, which responded to an accident.
Rick Allen lost his left arm in a car crash.
Captain Jack Sparrow is a fictional character, the main character of 'The pirates of the Caribbean', and we never find out how he actually lost his lower leg.

Answer: At a site of trauma.

It usually first appears at the location of a previously existing wound, although the soreness can sometimes arise at a distance from the trauma.
The pain is generally much worse than you would imagine from that type of injury.

Answer: By practicing good personal hygiene, like washing hands often and keeping wounds clean.

Unfortunately there is no certain prevention for the disease.
However, frequent hand-washing, keeping wounds clean and intact as best as possible are known to be the best preventative measures.
Also, sneezing and coughing into tissues, and then discarding those used tissues immediately, is important.
Staying away from people who are infected with a strep infection (like strep throat etc.) can also help, as Group A â-hemolytic streptococcus is the organism that makes up most cases known to cause necrotizing fasciitis.