necrotizing fasciitis

noun

Definition of necrotizing fasciitis

: a severe soft tissue infection that is caused by bacteria (such as Group A streptococci or MRSA) and is marked by edema and necrosis of subcutaneous tissues with involvement of adjacent fascia and by painful red swollen skin over affected areas If the infection occurred on the skin or underlying tissue as through a cut, necrotizing fasciitis could develop, literally eating away deep muscle and other soft tissue, eventually causing organ failure and death.— Shannon Thompkins

— called also flesh-eating disease

Examples of necrotizing fasciitis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Her necrotizing fasciitis infection was the most painful thing, in body and mind, the special education teacher had ever endured. — AZCentral.com, 4 Aug. 2022 After a life-saving transport, multiple surgeries and months of physical therapy, Kiger-Camilo has fully recovered from necrotizing fasciitis, a kind of flesh-eating bacteria that almost killed her. — Bellamy Richardson, PEOPLE.com, 29 July 2022 Climate change is similarly suspected to be behind the geographic expansion of a dangerous bacterium, Vibrio vulnificus, which can cause flesh-eating infections known as necrotizing fasciitis. — Elisha Fieldstadt, NBC News, 12 July 2022 An earlier version of this article stated that necrotizing fasciitis was a specific bacteria. — The Editors, Outside Online, 24 June 2015 Other possible causes include necrotizing fasciitis, chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereum, anogenital cutaneous amebiasis, cancer, or a belt sander. — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2021 Smith developed life-threatening necrotizing fasciitis following the surgery that resulted in sepsis. — John Perrotto, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2021 After surgery, an infection turned out to be sepsis and necrotizing fasciitis — flesh-eating bacteria — which threatened his life and nearly resulted in having his leg amputated. — Scott D. Pierce, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Aug. 2021 The Alabama Department of Public Health has not issued any kind of warning about necrotizing fasciitis. — Mckenzie Sadeghi, USA TODAY, 2 July 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'necrotizing fasciitis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

10 Aug 2022

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“Necrotizing fasciitis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/necrotizing%20fasciitis. Accessed 18 Aug. 2022.

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More Definitions for necrotizing fasciitis

necrotizing fasciitis

noun

Medical Definition of necrotizing fasciitis

: a severe infection of soft tissue that is caused by bacteria (such as Group A streptococci or MRSA) and is marked by edema and necrosis of subcutaneous tissue with involvement of adjacent fascia and by painful red swollen skin over affected areas On incision, clues such as fat necrosis … and thrombosis of subcutaneous veins … would suggest necrotizing fasciitis.— Michael R. Filbin et al., The New England Journal of Medicine If the infection occurred on the skin or underlying tissue as through a cut, necrotizing fasciitis could develop, literally eating away deep muscle and other soft tissue, eventually causing organ failure and death.— Shannon Tompkins, The Houston Chronicle

— called also flesh-eating disease

Note: Necrotizing fasciitis usually occurs as a complication of surgery, injury, or infection by extension from the initially affected site.