Flesh Eating Bacteria Symptoms & Prevention: Where Does it Come From?

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A Georgia woman and mother of two recently underwent surgical amputations last week to stop the spread of flesh-eating bacteria in her body, The Washington Post reports.

Cindy Martinez was rushed to the emergency room on May 25 due to a severe pain in her left shoulder blade. She was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis shortly after and her doctors removed dead tissue from the left side of her body after three days in the hospital.

It was unclear how Martinez got the infection, her husband David said.

According to the report, many victims start out as healthy people, devoid of any signs or symptoms.

"She didn't have any injury, and initially at home when she was feeling the pain, I looked at where the pain was at and I didn't notice anything, and that's what's troubling," he said.

The term flesh-eating bacteria has been popularized by media but refers to necrotizing fasciitis. It is a serious and rare bacterial infection that starts in the tissues and spreads to the flat layers of the tissue.

The infection is mainly caused by a bacterium called Streptococcus pyogenes and other bacteria that cause strep throat and impetigo.

It mostly affects the arms, abdominal walls, and legs and is considered to be dangerous as it has a high mortality rate in up to 40 percent of cases, according to Medicine Net.

Like most microbes, the bacteria can enter the body through abrasions, minor cuts, or insect bites. It then swiftly destroys muscle, skin, and fat tissues.

To prevent infection, it is recommended to practice proper hand washing hygiene and by keeping all types of open wounds such as cuts, scrapes, burns, sores, and bites clean.

The symptoms usually show up within the first 24 hours of the infection, according to WebMD.

Signs and symptoms may be as mild as thirst and dehydration, to as severe as tissue death, gangrene, toxic shock syndrome, and unconsciousness.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is imperative to get treatment for necrotizing fasciitis right away. Strong antibiotics may help prevent the bacterial toxins. If not, surgical removal of dead tissue can help prevent it from spreading.