Increasing number of infections caused by known “flesh-eating bacteria…

Anxiety in Japan due to the spread of the famous “flesh-eating bacteria“Keep going. As of June 2, the country’s health authorities had registered 977 cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), and 77 people died from the infection between January and March.

The bacterial disease causing health concern in Japan is a type of group A streptococcus whose toxins cause a syndrome called streptococcal toxic shock (STSS).

In particular, this Streptococcus pyogenesthis is the same bacterium that causes scarlet fever.

This group A streptococcus is not new at all, but recently there has been growing concern about its rapid spread, from which no country is immune. “Because it is an infectious agent, the potential for spread is high.”experts explain.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number has been increasing since 2022, with countries such as France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Great Britain and Northern Ireland reporting an increase in cases of invasive disease caused by group A streptococcus and scarlet fever. Similarly, in addition to Japan, alarm bells have recently sounded in the United States.

Do “flesh-eating” bacteria exist?

In fact, there are no “flesh-eating” bacteria. According to the Spanish Society of Critical Intensive Care and Coronary Care Units (SEMICyUC), “There is a diverse group of bacteria from different genres that, among other sources, can cause infections affecting the skin and underlying tissues.”

José Ramos Vivas, professor of microbiology and researcher at European Atlantic University, explains that they are called “flesh-eating” bacteria because “They can use proteins, lipids and sugars found in meat to grow. “The wounds they cause make it appear as if these microorganisms are eating flesh.”

Typically, these pathogens find entry into the body, for example, through a wound. Although uncommon, infection can also occur through blood from another source. Once they get in, “They multiply, producing toxins and enzymes that promote the spread of infection deeper, causing necrosis of underlying tissues and fascia, as well as the formation of blood clots in microvessels.”

All of this can cause damage to organs that are not necessarily in the infected area, such as the kidneys, liver or lungs. “In this situation, we would talk about sepsis with the development of multiple organ failure, which can lead to the death of the patient.”“, say from SEMICyUC.

How often do they get infected?

The first thing to know is that these infections are rare (0.3 to 15 cases per 100,000 inhabitants). Two types should be distinguished:

• Type I. This is an infection caused by various bacteria. (polymicrobial) and it typically affects immunocompromised patients or those with chronic diseases such as liver disease, diabetes.
• Type II. In this case, infection will be monomicrobial, which, as the name suggests, is produced by a single bacterium. The most vulnerable population group is young people who do not have health problems but have a history of intravenous drug abuse, trauma, or recent surgery.

The second group includes group A streptococci, which are the most common cause of this type of tissue necrosis, known as necrotizing fasciitis. This necrosis and streptococcal toxic shock are the most severe forms of invasive disease caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. In necrotizing fasciitis, this occurs when a microorganism damages the fascia, the membrane that surrounds the muscle.

How to treat and prevent this infection

Initial treatment is based on surgery to clean and remove damaged or infected tissue and the use of antibiotics. The first thing the doctor is going to do is prescribe a broad-spectrum antibiotic because “at first glance, you can’t know what type of bacteria is causing the infection. prescribed for a specific pathogen.

As for surgical intervention, it is advisable to periodically conduct a surgical examination of the affected area with washing of the affected tissues and sanitation treatment. Only in extreme cases and with poor development may it be necessary to amputate the affected area.

For preventive actionRecommended for those traveling to Japan. “Extraordinary hand hygiene, avoid crowded places and, if necessary, use a mask.”. In this sense, what stands out is that when it comes to diseases that can be transmitted through airborne droplets, “Surgical masks used during a pandemic or FPP2 are an important filter that protects us from possible infection.” On the other hand, keep in mind that it doesn’t hurt to always have a water-alcohol solution with you, which can help when “we don’t have the ability to wash our hands effectively.”

Reminder:

Staying active and healthy will boost our defenses, greatly helping our immune system.