What's a simple way to say what necrotizing fasciitis really is?

Necrotizing fasciiti: It is an infection in which the bacteria produce substances which cause your skin and tissues to die. The other lay term is "flesh eating bacteria".

Bacterial infection: Necrotizing fasciitis is the condition caused by severe infection by bacteria beneath the skin that destroys soft tissues down to the muscle covering layer, fascia. This results in destruction of fat, blood vessels and overlying skin eventually. The mechanism of tissue death is mostly related to clotting of superficial veins, smaller arteries and lymphatic channels.

Symptoms are out of: Symptoms often are out of proportion to the presenting wound and may progress rapidly to septic shock. Immediate surgical intervention will be a life saving measure.

Infection: This is an aggressive infection of the skin and underlying fat and fascia. It can spread quickly and should be treated asap.

A rapidly spreading,: Tissue-destroying infection that involves the muscle sheaths that requires aggressive repeated surgical debridements regardless of tissue loss to save the life of the pt.

A life : Threatening infection caused by bacteria and the toxins they produce.