Vibrio vulnificus, a type of flesh-eating bacteria that thrives in warm seawater, is once again threatening the safety of beachgoers and raw shellfish enthusiasts. There are several types of bacteria that can infect open wounds and cause a rare condition called necrotizing fasciitis. How do you catch flesh-eating bacteria? Climate change is also fueling stronger hurricanes and storm surges, which have been associated with spikes in flesh-eating bacteria infection cases due to increasing contact with seawater or brackish water. Treating flesh-eating bacteria is a race against time.