It’s really hard to think of good things to say about flesh-eating bacteria, in general, except this – it really, really gets the attention of people otherwise disinterested in microbiology. It’s not easy to be all blasé when you read a newspaper with a headline screaming stuff like:
OH, NO, FLESH EATING BACTERIA STRIKES AGAIN!!!!
And:
FLESH EATING BACTERIA DEVOURED ELVIS AT A GAS PUMP IN BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA!!!
The media do love their flesh-eating bacteria, you know. And who can blame them, really? The effects of so-called flesh-eating bacteria are as graphic as you might imagine – the bacteria, once they’ve introduced into the deeper layers of your flesh, start tearing you apart from the inside out. I’ve seen photos of red, raw flesh hanging off an arm bone belong to a victim of this disease. There’s been a case, recently, of a new-born baby contracting the disease – to save her life, surgeons had to amputate all of her limbs.
And for this ghastly disease, there is an equally ghoulish scientific name: necrotizing fasciitis, which in Latin, roughly means “cell-destroying inflammation of the connective tissue,” and also means, more precisely, “Hoo, boy, are you screwed now, (sad face).”
I should point out, though, that there are a couple of things that are often missed when it comes to flesh-eating bacteria. First, it’s not just one kind of bacteria that causes necrotizing fasciitis. Streptococcus pyogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus are just some of the little jerks running around, having a field day in your body. If your body is a temple, then these guys are like ruthless savages, pulling down your connective tissues like so many supporting columns and buttresses. If your body is a frat house, well, you probably needed that trip to the doctor’s anyhow. (Kidding, kidding!).
But it’s also unfair to place all of the blame on the bacteria. See, the other thing that often goes unmentioned is the fact that while the bacteria do start the party, your own immune system is complicit in this bacterial bacchanalia as well.
That’s right – your own immune cells, usually macrophages, are also degrading your flesh. Streptococcus bacteria, in particular, release a toxin that acts as a superantigen. An antigen, very quickly, is something that activates the immune system. A superantigen not only activates the immune system, it also tells the immune system, “Hark, there are demonic hosts in the larder, your fortress is falling apart, and God hates you.” The immune system then overreacts, so to speak, causing a hyper-immune response. This hyper-immune response, in turn, destroys cells. Tiny blood vessels are also damaged or clogged, depriving tissue of oxygen and causing even more tissue damage.
But those of you worried about imminent zombification – rest easy! Although necrotizing fasciitis is some really bad stuff, the actual occurrence of the disease is pretty rare. Two of the pathogens most frequently implicated in necrotizing fasciitis, S. aureus and S. pyogenes, are fairly common bacteria – the former colonizes as many as 20% of all humans, and maybe more, depending on who you ask. The fact that the disease is so rare even when its causative organisms are so common points to how infrequently the disease strikes.
So stand tall, and tell the S. aureus on your skin – today’s not the day! (No, not out loud. If anyone caught you talking with the bacteria on your skin, you’d be in the hospital for an entirely different reason).
Moral of the Story:
Flesh-eating bacteria may destroy you, but only if you have like, major bad luck. Also, having necrotizing fasciitis may be one of the very few justified reasons for massive bouts of self-pity, so emo song-writers, take heed, and start writing!
