The Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria accounts for most cases of necrotizing soft tissue infection.
Since mid-December, around ten very ill patients have been admitted to the UMCG in Groningen after an infection with the so-called flesh-eating bacteria. Several people from that group have died and the rest are expected to have long-term complaints. These are exceptionally high numbers of very ill patients with group A streptococcus infection.