CBS NEWS
Tyler King was at work in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, last week, when he noticed his left bicep starting to swell. He tried taking Benadryl but just a few hours later his arm had nearly tripled in size. He rushed to the emergency room.
"When I was a little bit younger, I probably would have tried to tough it out. Well, that would have been the worst thing that I could do," King said. "If I had gone to sleep … and had woke up with it at the rate it was spreading, I might not have an arm right now."
King had contracted vibrio, a bacteria commonly found in warm, brackish water – a mix of salt and fresh water. When exposed to an open wound, Vibrio can cause a skin infection. If left untreated, the bacteria can be deadly.
- Maryland boy infected with flesh-eating bacteria, mother says
- Florida woman's death from flesh-eating bacteria shines a light on necrotizing fasciitis
- King, who owns a water sports business, says he did not directly touch the water the day he was infected. He still doesn't know how it happened but he considers himself lucky.
Similar cases of infection have been popping up on beaches along the East Coast. A Maryland woman says her son is healing after he developed open wounds swimming in a bay last week. A 77-year-old woman who was walking along the Gulf died after developing necrotizing fasciitis when she fell in the water and cut her leg.
"Waters are getting warmer and the bacteria love warmer water, so we're all at higher risk," explained CBS News medical contributor Dr. David Agus.
He says the key to stopping flesh-eating bacteria is to catch and treat infections with antibiotics quickly. Older people with medical conditions like diabetes, cancer or immune deficiencies are more susceptible.
"Once that bacteria has spread in the bloodstream to the organs, sometimes it's too hard to treat … but just pay attention. Don't be afraid of the ocean, but be aware of what's going on," Agus said.
Agus recommended people check themselves and children for cuts and to cover any open wounds with waterproof band-aids before getting in the ocean.
If you do get a cut in the water, clean it with hand sanitizer immediately and keep monitoring cuts for any signs of infection like swelling or redness.
A: Most healthy adults will be able to fight off a necrotizing fasciitis infection without hospital care.
It's the elderly, children and people with compromised immune systems or issues like liver disease who are more susceptible to the infection—if they have open wounds or lesions. People in these categories should avoid going in warm salt water or brackish water, hot tubs, and swimming pools. They also should avoid eating raw seafood, like crab, oysters or sushi.
But the easiest way to avoid contracting the infection is to wash your hands regularly.
A: Even with treatment, one in three patients die from necrotizing fasciitis, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since 2010, the agency estimates between 700 and 1,200 people a year have contracted the infection in the United States. But cases have gone up in the last year in Florida, local physicians said.
The infection destroys the skin and tissue that covers the muscle within 12 to 24 hours, and the bacteria release toxins into the tissue over time, causing it to die and decay. It can be quite painful, so doctors recommend seeking treatment as soon as possible if you don't feel well.
Usually, swelling occurs right away and blisters can form over the wound site. Those blisters will turn black and blue over time as tissue and skin begins to die.
Those who have the infection will feel flu-like symptoms of fever, dizziness and cold sweats right away. Severe complications are common, like sepsis, shock and organ failure.
Recovering from necrotizing fasciitis depends on how fast the infection is caught and treated by medical professionals. Multiple surgeries are fairly common to remove infected tissue, as are long courses of potent antibiotics.
A: In April, there were two cases of necrotizing fasciitis in Tampa Bay reported in men who spent time on the water. Mike Walton was fishing in the Gulf of Mexico over Easter weekend when he contracted it through a cut on his hand from a fish hook. He was treated at Tampa General Hospital. Barry Briggs developed an infection during a boating trip to Weedon Island. It wasn't until he returned home to Ohio that he began experiencing symptoms, and nearly lost his foot to the aggressive bacteria.
In Florida, physicians generally see strep A bacteria infections peak from winter through spring. The type of bacteria most commonly contracted through warm water, like in the Gulf of Mexico, is usually seen this time of the year and throughout hurricane season.
Flesh-eating bacteria in Florida waters: Three things you need to know
by Justine Griffin, Tampa Bay Times
Q: What are my chances of catching it if I go in the water?
A: Most healthy adults will be able to fight off a necrotizing fasciitis infection without hospital care.
It's the elderly, children and people with compromised immune systems or issues like liver disease who are more susceptible to the infection—if they have open wounds or lesions. People in these categories should avoid going in warm salt water or brackish water, hot tubs, and swimming pools. They also should avoid eating raw seafood, like crab, oysters or sushi.
But the easiest way to avoid contracting the infection is to wash your hands regularly.
Q: How seriously should I take this?
A: Even with treatment, one in three patients die from necrotizing fasciitis, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since 2010, the agency estimates between 700 and 1,200 people a year have contracted the infection in the United States. But cases have gone up in the last year in Florida, local physicians said.
The infection destroys the skin and tissue that covers the muscle within 12 to 24 hours, and the bacteria release toxins into the tissue over time, causing it to die and decay. It can be quite painful, so doctors recommend seeking treatment as soon as possible if you don't feel well.
Usually, swelling occurs right away and blisters can form over the wound site. Those blisters will turn black and blue over time as tissue and skin begins to die.
Those who have the infection will feel flu-like symptoms of fever, dizziness and cold sweats right away. Severe complications are common, like sepsis, shock and organ failure.
Recovering from necrotizing fasciitis depends on how fast the infection is caught and treated by medical professionals. Multiple surgeries are fairly common to remove infected tissue, as are long courses of potent antibiotics.
Q: How do you catch it?
A: In April, there were two cases of necrotizing fasciitis in Tampa Bay reported in men who spent time on the water. Mike Walton was fishing in the Gulf of Mexico over Easter weekend when he contracted it through a cut on his hand from a fish hook. He was treated at Tampa General Hospital. Barry Briggs developed an infection during a boating trip to Weedon Island. It wasn't until he returned home to Ohio that he began experiencing symptoms, and nearly lost his foot to the aggressive bacteria.
But both of those cases came from the group "A Streptococcus" bacteria, the same bacteria that causes strep throat, and which is generally considered the most common cause of necrotizing fasciitis, according to the CDC. That means you don't necessarily have to go into the water with an open cut to catch it. You can just be unlucky.
In Florida, physicians generally see strep A bacteria infections peak from winter through spring. The type of bacteria most commonly contracted through warm water, like in the Gulf of Mexico, is usually seen this time of the year and throughout hurricane season.
No comments:
Post a Comment