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Necrotizing fasciitis and vibrio vulnificus, also known as flesh-eating bacteria, look very much like a zombie movie. But if you have recently paid attention to the news, you know that they exist in IRL. Before deciding to lock yourself in a plastic bubble, it's important to know that even though flesh-eating bacteria are real, they are also rare. The idea that people contract her everywhere, all the time, is just one of the many myths about flesh-eating bacteria; others include the notion that bacteria actually eat the skin and that it is contagious.
The number of flesh-eating bacteria is increasing during the summer months, and recent news details nearly a dozen cases, some of which are fatal, in some states. "These headlines cause a great deal of panic, but if you are a healthy individual and practice good hygiene, you are unlikely to get it," said Dr. Niket Sonpal, internist and gastroenterologist, a faculty member. Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, tells Bustle.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this rare bacterial infection is most often the result of group A streptococcus, the same bacterium that causes the throat stage. It can also grow from Vibrio vulnificus, a bacterium found in warm coastal waters. Bacteria enter the skin through cuts, scrapes, burns, insect bites and sores. Vibrio can also be contracted by eating raw seafood. According to the CDC, there are only 700 to 1,200 cases of infection in the United States each year.
In addition, people with diabetes, kidney disease, cirrhosis of the liver, cancers and weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of eating flesh-eating bacterial infection than the general population. Since flesh-eating bacteria spread rapidly, early diagnosis and treatment are essential for recovery. If you notice an area of red skin that appears to swell rapidly, if you experience severe pain and fever, see a doctor immediately. According to the CDC, the infection can be treated with antibiotics or by surgery, but up to one in three people who contract the infection will die.
Although it is a very serious type of infection requiring immediate medical attention, it is not as common as the news would have you believe. Here are other myths about carnivorous bacteria that you can stop believing.
1. Myth: Flesh-eating bacteria eat your body
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Although we often talk about flesh-eating bacteria, necrotizing fasciitis does not "eat" your body. According to the National Organization for Rare Diseases, necrotizing fasciitis results in "a decaying infection of the fascia". The infection causes the death of soft tissues of the body. In fact, there is no food to eat.
"Contrary to what some might think, the bacteria that cause necrotizing fasciitis are not known as tissue-eating powers, but they are known to release toxins that ultimately cause tissue death," says Dr. Sonpal.
2. Myth: Carnivorous bacteria are contagious
Because it's rarely contagious, someone who contracts flesh-eating bacteria will not be transported to an isolation unit. "As necrotizing fasciitis is almost always caused by a skin lesion, it is very unlikely that it will be pbaded from person to person," says Dr. Sonpal.
3. Myth: carnivorous bacteria are common
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A study published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology reported that only 35 people per year die of vibrio vulnificus worldwide and 93% of these cases are due to the consumption of contaminated shellfish. Another study published in the journal Epidemiology and Infection found that only five in a million people die each year from necrotizing fasciitis. So even if you hear a lot about it, it's not so common.
"This bacterium depends on the vulnerability of its" host ", which means that it is more likely to infect you if you are exposed to a lot of bacteria in a short time and that there is a way for the bacteria to break through your natural environment, your defenses (either because your immune system is deficient, or because your skin barrier is weak) and it accesses your bloodstream, "says Dr. Sonpal.
4. Myth: Flesh-eating bacteria come from bananas
It turns out that urban legend wants the banana to cause necrotizing fasciitis. If you have not heard of it, the Culinary Lore website reported that a fake mailing chain claiming to belong to the CDC had recommended people to avoid consuming bananas because they spreading flesh-eating bacteria.
"While a popular story proclaimed that bananas could carry flesh-eating bacteria, bacteria would not survive on a banana," says Dr. Sonpal. The CDC, the FDA and the International Banana Association have also issued statements correcting the facts.
5. Myth: There is no way to protect yourself
Your risk of contracting necrotizing fasciitis is low. You can further reduce your risk by taking some extra precautions. If your immune system is compromised, wear protective shoes on the beach to avoid cutting yourself, and avoid eating and handling raw shellfish.
In addition, Dr. Sonpal recommends that everyone wear gloves when chipping oysters, muscles and crabs. After cooking, eat the shellfish and refrigerate the leftovers immediately. If you have an open cut or wound, avoid getting in the water and consult a doctor for deep wounds or punctures.
But also, do not let the fear of carnivorous bacteria stop you from living your best life this summer; it's much less common than the reports would have thought of it.
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