Posted on 4/7/2004, 3:16:18 PM by Libertarian444
'Flesh-eating bacteria' kills care facility patient
By PATRICIA GUTHRIE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/06/04
State health officials have confirmed a Gainesville nursing home patient recently died of necrotizing fasciitis, commonly called "flesh-eating bacteria," and two other residents' illnesses are under investigation.
Necrotizing fasciitis is a skin infection caused by Group A streptococcus, the same bacterium that causes strep throat and a host of other illnesses.
Officials said two other residents at Bell Minor Home, a private 104-bed nursing facility, tested positive for Strep A but had shown no sign of the skin infection. State policy forbids releasing names or medical details of people suffering infectious diseases. The patients have ranged in age from their 70s to 90s, said Russ Strickland, Bell Minor administrator.
"Not all the test results are back," said Dr. Melody Stancil of the state Division of Public Health, who oversees 13 counties in northern Georgia. "What we know now is that there was one [resident] who had necrotizing fasciitis. Two other residents have confirmed cases of Strep A."
The resident with the confirmed case died in late March. One of the two other patients died soon after; the third is in stable condition.
About 600 cases or necrotizing fasciitis — resulting in about 150 deaths — are reported annually in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The skin infection enters through an existing wound, quickly destroying muscle, fat and skin tissue as it outwits antibiotics, amputation and other treatment.
Between 10 percent to 15 percent of the general population may carry Strep A but show no symptoms. Usually, the very old, very young and people with compromised immune systems are more likely to suffer life-threatening diseases from it.
Pneumonia, blood and skin infections, and meningitis are among the more serious forms of Strep A, according to state epidemiologist Dr. Gary Hlady. In contrast, millions of Americans get strep throat every year.
Staff and residents of the nursing home were tested for Strep A and offered protective antibiotics. So far about 10 percent of those tested were Strep A-positive, but not sick.
State health officials inspected the facility and reviewed measures aimed at preventing strep outbreaks.
The facility has never had a health violation, said Jamie Dalton of the northern public health district office.
Doomed!
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Should be "flesh-eating bacteria KILL"; bacteria is plural.
And what's with "care facility"? Political reasons for avoiding "nursing home" ...
Either of the two faces could stop a sun-dial.
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