necrotizing fasciitis

Extremely rare fatal bacterial infection caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. Toxins and enzymes produced by the bacteria rapidly digest human tissue.

There were 15 cases in Britain in the first half of 1994. In the USA there are up to 500 cases annually.

Most cases of necrotizing fasciitis are caused by group A Streprococcus, but in 1997 there was an increase in the incidence of infections caused by the much rarer group B Streprococcus in Canada, giving rise to fears that a mutation may have occurred that is increasing virulence. Even if the mutation had occurred, though, incidence is still extremely low: in Canada, there were five cases from April 1996 till September 1997 (compared with only four cases in the previous 40 years).