Flesh-eating Disease Health Video

Flesh-eating disease, or necrotizing fasciitis is a rare condition caused by a bacterium that has become resistant to antibiotics. Learn more about the symptoms and treatments of flesh-eating bacteria in this health video.

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Use caution in hospitals, gymnasiums, health clubs & day care centers
Consult a doctor immediately
Seek medical attention for non-healing wounds or redness

About this Author

Dr. Sewell joined On Call Medical Group after serving as the Medical Director of the Samaritan House in San Mateo. Dr. Sewell continues his community service and out reach work by acting locally. Dr. Sewell strives to provide the most comprehensive, personalized, and convenient medical care possible. He is dedicated to meeting each patient's individual needs and health care goals. Dr. Sewell has served the San Francisco Bay area as a house call doctor, he spends time with his patients to get to the root cause of their issues and concerns. He has worked with the elderly and continues in Internal Medicine with adult patients. Dr. Sewell's educational background includes Duke University BSE Biomedical/Electrical engineering; Georgetown University Masters in Biophysics and Physiology; Virginia Commonwealth University MD degree; California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, Internal medicine internship and residency. Dr. Sewell is versed in Spanish and is an expert in the field of Travel Medicine.

CLIFFORD SEWELL, MD: Hello. I'm Dr. Clifford Sewell. A brief message about flesh-eating disease. Recently, you may have read in the newspaper or seen on TV, reports of a flesh eating bacteria. The bacteria is called Staph aureus and it's also identified as MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staph aureus. Staph aureus is a very common bacteria on most of our skin every day. However, over the years of antibiotic use, it has developed a resistance. This methicillin-resistant Staph aureus is responsible for very serious infections. The infection can start as a very small cut or abrasion to the skin. The bacteria enters and causes a serious infection. The infection can travel quite quickly and requires surgery to debride the dying necrotic tissue. The most common place to acquire MRSA would be hospitals. Hospitals are working harder and harder to prevent MRSA transmission throughout their patients. Other locations could include gymnasiums or health clubs as well as daycare centers. Unfortunately, with all the resistance of the MRSA to antibiotics, there are only a few very potent antibiotics that are still effective. If you feel you have an infection on your skin, contact your doctor right away. An infection on the skin can start as a quite small area of redness, or heat, or tenderness and spread quite rapidly. So, at the first sign of redness or nonhealing wound, seek medical attention right away.

Flesh-Eating Disease Health Video

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