Flesh-eating bacteria might sound like a nightmare from a horror movie, but it’s a growing and potentially deadly concern. Recently, in September 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory about an increasing number of flesh-eating bacteria cases causing serious wound infections. I’m a professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine, specializing in microbiology and infectious diseases. Let’s explore why this infection is a growing concern and learn how to safeguard yourself.
What Does ‘Flesh-Eating’ Mean?
Several types of bacteria can infect open wounds and trigger a rare condition called necrotizing fasciitis. These bacteria don’t just harm the skin’s surface; they release toxins that destroy underlying tissues, including muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. If left untreated, necrotizing fasciitis can be fatal in as little as 48 hours. The most common culprit is group A Streptococcus, but the CDC’s latest warning points to another bacterium, Vibrio vulnificus. While there are only 150 to 200 cases of Vibrio vulnificus in the US each year, the mortality rate is high, with 1 in 5 people succumbing to the infection.
Why Are Flesh-Eating Bacteria Infections Rising?
How Do You Contract Flesh-Eating Bacteria?
Vibrio vulnificus primarily resides in warm seawater but can also be found in brackish water, where freshwater and the ocean mix. Most infections in the US happen during the warmer months, between May and October. People who swim, fish, or wade in these waters can contract the bacteria through an open wound or sore. Moreover, Vibrio vulnificus can get into seafood harvested from these waters, especially shellfish like oysters. Eating raw or undercooked seafood can lead to food poisoning, and handling them with an open wound can provide an entry point for the bacteria to cause necrotizing fasciitis. Vibrio vulnificus is a leading cause of seafood-associated fatality in the US.
Vibrio vulnificus can be found in warm coastal waters worldwide, including the southern Gulf Coast states in the US. However, rising ocean temperatures due to global warming are creating new habitats for this bacterium. It’s now been detected along the East Coast as far north as New York and Connecticut. A recent study revealed an eightfold increase in Vibrio vulnificus wound infections between 1988 and 2018 in the eastern US. Climate change is also contributing to stronger hurricanes and storm surges, associated with spikes in flesh-eating bacteria infection cases. Furthermore, an increasing number of people with weakened immune systems, such as those with diabetes or taking immunity-suppressing medications, are becoming more susceptible to severe infections.
READ:Watch As Neighbor Takes Matters into His Own Hands in Viral Video
Symptoms of Necrotizing Fasciitis and Its Treatment
Early signs of an infected wound include fever, redness, intense pain, and swelling at the injury site. If you experience these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Necrotizing fasciitis can progress rapidly, leading to ulcers, blisters, skin discoloration, and pus. Treating flesh-eating bacteria is a race against time. Antibiotics are administered directly into the bloodstream to kill the bacteria. In many cases, damaged tissue must be surgically removed to halt the infection’s rapid spread, sometimes resulting in amputation of affected limbs. Researchers are concerned because Vibrio vulnificus is evolving resistance to certain antibiotics, making some cases difficult to treat.
How to Protect Yourself
To prevent infection, the CDC recommends:
- Stay out of water that might contain Vibrio vulnificus if you have a fresh cut, piercing, or tattoo.
- Cover any open wounds with waterproof bandages before entering water.
- Avoid handling raw seafood or fish if you have an open wound.
- Wash wounds immediately and thoroughly with soap and water if they occur while fishing, preparing seafood, or swimming.
- Be aware that people with weakened immune systems are most susceptible to severe disease, including those
- taking immunosuppressive medications or individuals with pre-existing conditions like liver disease, cancer, HIV, or diabetes.
- Remember that while necrotizing fasciitis is rare, it’s a severe condition, so staying informed and taking precautions can be beneficial.
