A 52-year-old man in the US developed a flesh-eating bacterial infection after being bitten by a relative during a family gathering.
Donnie Adams of Riverview, Florida, noticed a small swelling in his left thigh, as well as a pain. He thought this probably belonged to when he tried to break up a fight between family members a few days ago, the Tampa Bay Times reported. On February 14, he went to the emergency room for medical treatment, received a tetanus vaccine and antibiotics.
However, he returned to the hospital three days later in a much more serious condition. He could barely walk, most of the flesh on Adams’ leg between his knee and groin was rotting.
Adams was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, an infection that can destroy skin, fat, and muscle in a very short time, and was immediately taken to emergency surgery. Commonly called “flesh-eating disease,” this serious condition can enter the body through a tear in the skin. Prompt treatment, cutting away the dead tissue and administering antibiotics are the keys to treating the potentially fatal disease.
During the surgery, Adams’ medical team had to cut off about 70 percent of the meat on his thigh and then a little more during a follow-up procedure. While this situation may seem rather strict, it could have been much worse.
“If I had waited until the next day after our second visit, there was a chance I would have lost my leg,” Adams said in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times.
What is necrotizing fasciitis?
Necrotizing fasciitis is caused by various types of bacteria, most commonly group A Streptococcus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is not known whether Adams’ infection was spread through bacteria taken directly from the bite, or whether it was transmitted later. In general, the condition enters the body through cuts, scrapes, and other wounds, and it is rare for it to spread from person to person.
Despite being injured, Adams has recovered and is able to walk normally again. He told the Tampa Bay Times that family members involved were “sorry”.
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