Latest news with #necrotizingfasciitis
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'Flesh-eating' bacteria claims second Bay County victim in 2025; fifth across Florida
PANAMA CITY — Two people have now died this year in Bay County from a "flesh-eating" bacteria. According to past reports, a 78-year-old man visiting St. George Island in Franklin County died at a Bay County hospital on Aug. 4 after contracting vibrio vulnificus. Here's what we know about the incident: What is vibrio vulnificus? While many reports refer to the bacteria as "flesh-eating," officials the Center for Disease Control and Prevention note this is not necessarily true, since the germ doesn't actually eat flesh. The bacteria instead can sometimes cause necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection where flesh around a wound dies, leading to the appearance of it being "flesh-eating." Vibrio thrives in warm brackish seawater and cases are known to spring up between May and October. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are 80,000 yearly cases of the vibriosis in the United States, with 52,000 coming from eating contaminated seafood. Most vibrio infections lead to mild gastroenteritis. Vibrio vulnificus is the variant with the high mortality rate tracked by the Florida Department of Health. Wound and bloodstream infections of vibrio vulnificus have the severe symptoms, with the bacteria killing one in five people who are infected. Those with pre-existing conditions or recent surgeries are most at risk. How many vibrio vulnificus deaths, cases this year? The Aug. 4 incident marks the second death in Bay County this year from vibrio vulnificus. It also was the Florida's fifth death related to the bacteria this year. So far in 2025, 16 people have contracted vibrio vulnificus across the state. In just Northwest Florida, there was one case in Okaloosa County, one case in Walton County, and two cases in Escambia County. How are most cases contracted? When infections do occur, they typically come from eating raw seafood infected with the virus, or entering water with an open wound. Exposing a wound to raw seafood, such as when shucking an oyster, can also cause an infection. Sanitary sewer overflows, leaky septic tanks, heavy rains, and disturbance of underwater sediment are also linked to higher concentrations of vibrio vulnificus. Water quality: Several beaches in Bay County are under a health advisory due to water quality Rising surface water temperatures from climate change also might allow the bacteria to become more prevalent in colder climates. Cases have been found as far north as New York and Connecticut. Vibrio vulnificus thrives in water temperatures between 68 and 95, but can grow in temperatures up to 105, according to the FDOH. This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Second person dies in Bay County this year from vibrio vulnificus Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Deaths from flesh-eating bacteria are on the rise. Who is at risk?
Deaths from 'flesh-eating' bacteria are on the rise across the southeastern coasts of the U.S. At least five people in Florida, four in Louisiana and one in the Outer Banks have died this year from infections that can cause necrotizing wounds. The culprit, the bacteria Vibrio vulnificus, thrives in warm seawater. Florida has seen 16 cases this year, according to the state's health department. Seventeen cases have been reported in Louisiana — more than previous years' annual averages. North Carolina has seen seven cases this year so far, the state Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to NBC News. And Mississippi has had three cases so far this year, the state's health department says. Initial deaths from the infection in Florida were reported in counties spread around the state's extensive coastline, from Bay County in the Panhandle and Hillsborough County, where Tampa is, on the Gulf Coast, to Broward County in Southeastern Florida and St. Johns County just south of Jacksonville. The bacteria can get into the body through open wounds in the skin and cause the surrounding tissue to die, a condition known as necrotizing fasciitis, or flesh-eating disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People can also get Vibrio vulnificus from eating contaminated foods, particularly raw oysters. It's unclear how the people in Florida were infected. About 1 in 5 people with a Vibrio vulnificus infection die, according to the CDC. Antarpreet Jutla, an engineering professor at the University of Florida, said that infections are still rare but 'something is off this year.' Still, he said there are too many unknowns to be certain what's causing the rise in infections at this time. 'This is certainly not normal, that's one thing,' Jutla said. 'We haven't had that many cases early on in the summer for a very long time.' Jutla said Vibrio vulnificus infections tend to increase after hurricanes. Last year, Florida saw a total of 82 cases, which may have been exacerbated by the 'extremely active' hurricane season. The bacteria can linger in hurricane floodwaters. 'Something happened this year that triggered the pathogens a little bit more than before,' he said. Hurricane season this year is still expected to be above normal as the U.S. enters its peak period, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported Thursday. Jutla's research group is investigating why there are high concentrations of plankton and chlorophyll — indicators for vibrio — across Florida's panhandle. He calls it a 'concern.' What is Vibrio vulnificus? Vibrio vulnificus is one of over 200 species of Vibrio bacteria, said Rita Colwell, a professor emerita of microbiology at the University of Maryland. The majority of Vibrio infections aren't harmful to humans, Jutla said. Some only affect other animals. But Vibrio bacteria do cause about 80,000 infections in people each year, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Most of those cases are gastrointestinal. Only a small handful — 100 to 200 cases — are due to Vibrio vulnificus. Other Vibrio species, including Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus, are often the cause of those stomach illnesses. Another type of Vibrio, Vibrio cholorae, causes the diarrheal disease cholera. Because Vibrio bacteria prefer warm water, they are typically found along the southeastern shores of the U.S., but they are also found on the West Coast. As ocean temperatures warm, more cases have been found farther north in recent years, Jutla said, including some in New York, Connecticut and Maryland. Who is at risk? Vibrio bacteria can creep in open wounds after spending time in salty or brackish water, said Dr. Norman Beatty, an infectious disease doctor at University of Florida Health. Most cases he's seen have been associated with spending extended time in the water, but he says that even a brief exposure could be the 'only thing needed.' Visible signs of an infection can start in just a few hours, Beatty said, and include redness, swelling and 'bull's-eye' blisters. The site will also be painful. If infection progresses, it can get into the bloodstream and cause sepsis, which can be deadly. Symptoms of sepsis include fever, chills and dangerously low blood pressure, according to the CDC. People with liver cirrhosis, weakened immune systems and those over 65 are most at risk for infection, Jutla said. Vibrio vulnificus infections can be treated with antibiotics. How to prevent Vibrio infections Beatty said he recommends covering up any open wounds before going into the ocean. Even a waterproof Band-Aid does the job, he said. If people think they have an infection, they should seek care immediately, Beatty said. Delaying can be the difference between developing severe complications and a more mild infection. 'A delay in presenting to health care is truly the likely reason why most people have a more serious outcome than others,' he said. 'People who present within the same day with signs and symptoms of early infection, who receive antibiotics, can do well and can avoid a lot of these serious complications.' This article was originally published on
Medscape
7 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Flesh-Eating Bacteria Surge in Gulf Coast States
The term 'flesh-eating bacteria' refers to bacteria that cause necrotizing fasciitis that destroys the soft tissue, particularly the fascial layer underneath the skin. Individuals with suspected cases should be treated with antibiotics immediately, as patients can die within a day or two of developing symptoms, according to the CDC. ' V vulnificus wound infections have a short incubation period and are characterized by necrotizing skin and soft tissue infection, with or without hemorrhagic bullae,' according to a warning statement issued by the Louisiana Department of Health. The warning was issued in July 2025 after an increase in severe cases, with 17 confirmed in the state so far in 2025 alone, including four deaths compared to an average of seven cases and one death annually over the past decade. 'Most cases of necrotizing fasciitis are due to group A streptococcus,' said Shirin Mazumder, MD, infectious diseases specialist in Memphis, Tennessee, in an interview. ' Vibrio vulnificus is a rare cause of necrotizing fasciitis that can be acquired when open wounds come in contact with warm salt water or brackish water, or through ingestion of raw or undercooked seafood,' Mazumder told Medscape Medical News . ' Vibrio vulnificus needs salt water to survive, so it be found in brackish water where freshwater and seawater mix,' she said. Most of the Louisiana cases (75%) involved wound exposure to sea water, according to the statement. Key symptoms of infection also include watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Diagnosis is based on identification of V vulnificus in the stool, wound, or blood of a symptomatic patient, but suspected cases from water exposure should begin treatment with antibiotics immediately, without waiting for test results, according to the CDC. The CDC currently recommends antibiotic treatment with a third-generation cephalosporin such as ceftazidime, plus doxycycline, as a first-line treatment. Individuals with V vulnificus infections may need aggressive debridement to remove necrotic tissue, according to the CDC; in extreme cases, amputation of an infected limb is necessary. When to Worry, What to Do 'Individuals that have contact strictly with freshwater should not be concerned about exposure,' Mazumder emphasized. 'The risk of vibriosis can be decreased by avoiding contact of any open wounds with salt water or brackish water, covering open wounds if there is anticipated contact with coastal water, and immediately washing any open wounds with soap and water that may have come in contact with salt or brackish water,' she said. The Louisiana Department of Health encourages individuals to reduce their risk for V vulnificus infection by avoiding coastal water activities if they have open wounds. Individuals with immunocompromising conditions, as well as those with diabetes or liver disease, may be especially vulnerable to infection, and the risk for exposure to V vulnificus may be greater given increased water temperatures and recent heat waves, flooding, and storms along the Gulf Coast, the Louisiana Department of Health experts wrote in the statement. Although most V vulnificus infections are reported in states along the Gulf Coast, the CDC issued an official Health Advisory in the summer of 2023, when a measured above-average coastal sea surface temperatures and heat waves coincided with severe and fatal V vulnificus infectious in states along the East Coast, including New York, North Carolina, and Connecticut. 'An increase in Vibrio vulnificus cases can be attributed to warmer weather, rising coastal water temperatures and extreme weather events such as flooding, hurricanes and storms which can force coastal waters inland,' Mazumder told Medscape Medical News . 'Most cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections are found along the Gulf states; however, more cases are being identified in northeastern states due to increasing water temperature,' she noted. Mazumder echoed the CDC's recommendation for immediate initiation of antibiotics in suspected V vulnificus infections. 'A third-generation cephalosporin in combination with either a tetracycline or fluoroquinolone should be started promptly, and antibiotic therapy can be tailored once susceptibility data is available,' said Mazumder. 'In addition, supportive care is necessary, and evaluation for immediate surgical debridement should be considered in those with a skin and soft tissue infection,' she said. Appropriate diagnostic specimens should be obtained, including blood cultures, wound cultures and stool testing in patients who have diarrhea. Most importantly, V vulnificus is a reportable infection, so clinicians who encounter cases must contact their local health departments, Mazumder added.
Forbes
16-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
NFL QB Alex Smith's Necrotizing Fasciitis, Pain & Mental Struggles
Alex Smith, former NFL quarterback, is sharing his story of surgeries, pain, depression and ... More resilience in the hopes of helping others. WARNING: This article will contain graphic images of leg wounds. A tall and handsome professional athlete with a wife and kids, former NFL quarterback Alex Smith had it all. Until he didn't. In 2018, Smith sustained a leg injury on the field that fractured his tibia and fibula in multiple locations. The harrowing events that followed—a life-threatening infection, 17 operations, mental struggles and significant pain—changed the trajectory of Smith's life. In my recent interview, the father of three openly shares his rocky but resilient journey as well as his Pain Game Plan partnership with Vertex Pharmaceuticals and his aim to empower everyone to advocate for their own physical and mental wellbeing. Alex Smith's right lower leg developed necrotizing fasciitis, a rare and life-threatening infection. ... More Redness, swelling, pus and dead (black, necrotic) tissue seen here characterize this 'flesh-eating' disease After the initial surgery, Smith developed an infection of his right leg. Post-operative infections are not uncommon. Among the multiple fractures endured by Smith was an open or compound fracture where the bone pierces through the skin, and is associated with an increased risk of infection. Unfortunately, the former broadcaster was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, a rare, 'flesh-eating' disease commonly caused by Group A Streptococcus or Staphylococcus bacteria. Without immediate treatment including intravenous antibiotics and surgery, Smith could have lost both his limb and his life. 'The initial emergency surgery on the day of the injury went well. I needed to stay a couple of days for observation and then go home,' recalled Smith. But his leg became infected and he developed sepsis. 'I never made it out of the hospital.' Over the subsequent weeks and months, Smith underwent a total of 17 surgeries including nearly daily debridements to remove the infected tissue and limb salvage procedures. Today, Smith's leg looks very different but he has it and it's functional. He knows he's lucky to be alive. 'It was a crazy couple-year process and somehow I ended up running back out on the field and playing quarterback again,' reflected a grateful Smith. Alex Smith underwent 17 surgeries and nearly two years of rehab to save his limb and his life. ... More Post-op repair including multiple skin grafts are notable in his right leg. Smith did not anticipate such a prolonged and complicated rehabilitation process. The former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback underwent nearly 20 surgeries, all very different, and all associated with varying types and degrees of pain. He also had to wear an external fixator or 'steel cage' that was bolted into his right leg for nearly a year. 'Life goes on,' reflected Smith who danced at weddings with a steel cage on his limb. Pain was always there but never discussed. When he was discharged from the hospital, he was given a 'bag of pills and a rescue medication' without any explanation from his care team, according to Smith. He and his wife were scared. 'Pain is so universal. It overwhelms you. You marinate in it, it's hard to escape,' explained the TED speaker. He felt guilty asking for relief. Looking back, he wished he had conversations about pain management with his medical team. As an addiction medicine specialist and former primary care doctor, I have cared for many patients with pain. But I learned very little about managing pain during formal medical training despite it being one of the most common symptoms we experience. Pain is poorly understood, undertreated, inappropriately treated or not treated at all. Like Smith, many people with pain feel guilt or shame asking for relief. Pain affects different people in different ways. It varies in form, onset, duration and location. For all these reasons, treatment strategies must be tailored to each individual. Doctors should set treatment goals and expectations. Clinicians should use a step-wise approach when managing pain. Most pain improves with conservative, non-pharmacologic management such as heat, ice, exercise, massage, physical therapy, yoga and acupuncture. Pharmacotherapy includes different classes of medicines such as over-the-counter NSAIDs and acetaminophen; topical agents (e.g. lidocaine, diclofenac); antidepressants (amitryptaline, venlafaxine); or antiepileptics (pregabalin, gabapentin). If these tools are not effective, opioids such as oxycodone or morphine should be considered. The prescribing physician, NP or PA must review risks and benefits, side effects and monitor clinically with follow-up visits. The opioid overdose reversal agent, naloxone, should also be prescribed as it was for Smith. Procedures and devices can also be used to manage pain such as steroid injections, nerve blocks, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and surgery. Guided meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy can also provide reduce pain. Pain and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety are often associated. 'The physical journey IS the mental journey,' emphasized Smith. The NFLer was in a wheelchair for months. He felt confined, physically limited and depressed, all the while dealing with ongoing pain. 'I was not in a good place mentally,' Smith confessed. Smith is not alone. Studies show that pain and mental health are closely connected. An estimated 35-45% of people with chronic pain experience depression. Anxiety and other mood disorders commonly occur at the same time as chronic pain. As Smith pointed out, pain is so universal. But too many people are suffering in silence. This needs to change. In hindsight, Smith would have had conversations with the medical staff, and he encourages everyone with pain to do the same. I agree completely. 'There are no dumb questions,' Smith pointed out. As an NFL quarterback, he recognizes the macho, masculine stereotypes associated with his profession, but they act as obstacles to getting proper care. 'I tried to live up to the image of a 'tough' football player. It's so unhealthy.' Smith strongly encouraged people to ask for help. He pushed back against society's expectation of a person needing to toughen up. 'In this country, we love this idea of rugged individualism. But no one does anything great alone. Nobody. I am the product of amazing teammates and teams that changed my life, including the military that changed my rehab.' Smith's advice on teamwork and leaning on others strongly resonates with me. A common motto in my field is that the opposite of addiction isn't sobriety, it's connection. We need to lean on others to get stronger, healthier and happier. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness; it's a sign of strength.
