The Anatomy of a Killer

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In recent years, a rare but serious infection called 'necrotizing fasciitis,’ commonly called ‘flesh eating disease,’ has been in the news.  In rare instances, it is caused by a mutant version of a common bacteria which many people carry in their throat or on their skin without ever getting sick.

Researchers in the United States have now used genetic analysis of strains of group A streptococcus bacteria, collected by Canadian doctors since 1992, to unravel this disease.

Doctors began collecting patients’ strep bacteria samples during an outbreak of toxic shock disease and flesh eating disease that occurred in Ontario long before the technology for analysing the genetic properties of the bacteria was available.  Although there are many types of group A streptococcus bacteria, doctors separated out the strains that were the same as those that infected the former Quebec Premier, Lucien Bouchard, in 1994.

In a remarkable cooperative effort, U.S. scientists analysed 255 samples of the most dangerous strains.  Their work showed that many of these samples had picked up DNA, and that this new genetic material allowed them to produce toxins associated with flesh eating disease.

So next time it comes out of hiding, your doctor should be able to deal with it quickly enough to save your life.