Fasciitis AKA Flesh-Eating Bacteria

Nurse Ratched, RN · Feb 9, 2005

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=necrotizing+fasciitis

Lots o' stuff here.

I've never seen it personally, but friends have cared for patients with it. Apparently scarily impressive to see.

NurseFirst · Mar 16, 2005

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=necrotizing+fasciitis
Lots o' stuff here.
I've never seen it personally, but friends have cared for patients with it. Apparently scarily impressive to see.

A few weekends back I stumbled on a site which was a support site for people who have/have had necrotizing fascitis. Lots of before and after pictures. Lots of sad stories...it's one of those things that re-emphasizes how fragile life can be--since some of these folks scratched themselves or bumped themselves and within 2 weeks or less, died.

From what I've seen on that board, it doesn't seem to be contagious...but don't know for sure.

NurseFirst

safewaygreenbox · Mar 17, 2005

Hi

I've nursed a couple of patients with this and know someone who's husband had it :uhoh21:

With the patients that I have nursed I must say their recovery was down to a fast diagnosis, prompt surgery to remove affected areas and further regular surgery as required. No messing about here - straight to theatre. I work in urology so this has lead to plastic surgery being required but at least 1 testicle was saved in each case.

My collegues hubby did not fair so well - he spent a lot of time in ITU with lots of radical surgery to abdomin - then he got MRSA :rolleyes:

No barrier nursing was involved.

Kay the 2nd :)

talaxandra · Mar 17, 2005

Necrotising Fasciitis is most commonly caused by staph aureous of strep A, but there are other causitive organisms.

I've looked after maybe half a dozen patients with it, and have heard about other cases through colleagues. It's not contagious, but can move unbelievably fast and is devastating.

The National Necrotizing Fasciitis Foundation webpage (http://www.nnff.org/nnff_survivors.htm) has survivor stories and some really scary before/during/after pictures, particularly Dan Morsette (http://www.nnff.org/survivors/dan_morsette/dan.htm), Ruth Hunter Damron (http://www.nnff.org/survivors/ruth_damron/ruth_damron.htm), and Tracey Nesbit's pages(http://www.nnff.org/survivors/tracy_n/tracy_n.htm).

cwazycwissyRN, RN · Mar 19, 2005

Have seen it several times in the OR. SCARY stuff!!!!!!!!!!! Considered emergency surgery. It grows so amazingly fast.....SCARY STUFF

NurseFirst · Mar 19, 2005

Necrotising Fasciitis is most commonly caused by staph aureous of strep A, but there are other causitive organisms.
I've looked after maybe half a dozen patients with it, and have heard about other cases through colleagues. It's not contagious, but can move unbelievably fast and is devastating.
The National Necrotizing Fasciitis Foundation webpage (http://www.nnff.org/nnff_survivors.htm) has survivor stories and some really scary before/during/after pictures, particularly Dan Morsette (http://www.nnff.org/survivors/dan_morsette/dan.htm), Ruth Hunter Damron (http://www.nnff.org/survivors/ruth_damron/ruth_damron.htm), and Tracey Nesbit's pages(http://www.nnff.org/survivors/tracy_n/tracy_n.htm).

Yeah, that was the site I found before. SCARY is RIGHT!

NurseFirst

Nurse Bird · May 19, 2005

Has anyone ever experienced this disease and do you know where I could find more information on it??? And how contagious is it?????

Hi

An excellent British website to check out on this is :

http://www.nfsuk.org.uk

It's called the Lee Spark NF Foundation and it is a charity run foundation that will tell you more about severe streptococcal infections and necrotising fasciitis and also offers support to sufferers and families who have lost someone to this.

Good luck!

Dan Morsette · Feb 10, 2012

Has anyone ever experienced this disease and do you know where I could find more information on it??? And how contagious is it?????

I am the now 10 year survivor of necrotizing fascittis, dan morsette, attached to the now infamous photos of the surguries and process linked to in the other reply. I purposefully made this story as public as possible for the reasons of awareness and education, and was delighted to find it mentioned on this thread.

As for me, it's a miracle I'm alive, and I don't forget it for one minute, chronic pain assures that. lol.

A good sence of humor and a good nurse, can get you through the worst.

Bless you all.

Dan Morsette · Feb 10, 2012

forgot to mention, no its not contagious.

dont know what all the extra stuff is about in my post.

talaxandra · Feb 18, 2012

Thanks Dan - as posted by me above (quite some time ago!) your story is amazing. Thank you so much for sharing it - as a nurse working with survivors of NF it's been invaluable for both my own understanding of the condition and for teaching less experienced colleagues :)