Zanna

Current Event Posting # 4

Topic: Health

Title of Article:  Say what? ‘Flesh-eating bacteria’ explained

Author: doesn’t say

Publication Name: CNN

Date of Published: May 14, 2012

Length of Article: 353 words

Recently there has been a case with a woman who contracted flesh-eating bacteria while zip lining. The bacteria is called “ necrotizing fascilitis”, the specific type that Aimee Copeland caught is called “aeromonas hydrophila. It is found in most fresh water or brackish water environments, according to the Food and drug administration.  Stomach and intestinal or intestinal problems is common if swallowed by swimmers. Aeromonas hydrophila can also enter the body through an open wound, as happened in the Copeland case. When it goes through an open wound, the bacteria reproduces and gives off toxins that destroy skin and soft tissue. Doctors have found that if it is detected early, only skin or fat may need to be removed, but if the infection is detected later, amputation may be necessary to top the spreading of the rapidly reproducing bacteria. Dr. William Schaffner, who is president of the National Foundation for infectious Diseases says that when Areomonas hydrophila enters through an open wound, early diagnosis is difficult.

Patients should pay close attention to pain coming from a closed wound, as well as redness and draining. The FDA says the frequency of Areomonas hydropilia infections is unknown, because researchers only recently started collecting data about it.