Flesh-eating bacteria infections spike in Lee, Collier County after hurricanes Helene, Milton

[littlemissmartypants]

Last edited Tue Oct 15, 2024, 11:44 PM - Edit history (1)

Flesh-eating bacteria infections spike
in Lee, Collier County after
hurricanes Helene, Milton

C. A. Bridges and Kim Luciani
USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
Published 11:12 a.m. ET Oct. 15, 2024 Updated 2:20 p.m. ET Oct. 15, 2024

Flesh-eating bacteria cases have surged in the last few weeks since Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton swept through, according to data from the Florida Department of Health.

Vibrio vulnificusa, a naturally occurring but potentially fatal bacterial infection, thrives in warm floodwaters when hurricanes and tropical storms push brackish water along the coast and into rivers and canals, filling them and low-lying areas with rainwater, pollutants, sewage and debris.

In Southwest Florida, four new cases in Lee County and one in Collier County have been reported – an "unusual increase" due to the recent hurricanes, the FDOH said. In 2022 Lee and Collier counties also experienced a spike in cases due to the impacts of Hurricane Ian, the FDOH noted.

There have been 37 cases and four deaths reported statewide just since mid-September, according to FDOH data, with 13 cases and one death in Pinellas County.
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Terry Brennen has had three surgeries so far after becoming infected with Vibrio vulnificus bacteria. His toes are at the far right. Special To The News-Press
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https://www.news-press.com/story/news/2024/10/15/hurricane-floods-in-sw-fl-cause-surge-in-vibrio-vulnificus-infections/75684863007/

[blue neen]

1. OMG!

Those poor people.

[Maraya1969]

2. this may not be so true but If I had an infection like that I would smother

it with colloidal silver. Years ago I used to make it and I just think it makes sense that it will kill all sorts off germs on contact

[littlemissmartypants]

4. I have used CS. But not for this. From the CDC...

Last edited Wed Oct 16, 2024, 01:13 AM - Edit history (1)

Overview
What are Vibrio?
Vibrio are bacteria that naturally live in certain coastal waters. They are found in higher numbers in May through October, when water temperatures are warmer.

Coastal waters include salt water and brackish water. Brackish water is a mixture of salt water and fresh water. It is often found where rivers meet the ocean.

What is vibriosis?
About a dozen species (kinds) of Vibrio can cause a human illness called vibriosis. The most common species causing human illness in the United States are

Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Vibrio vulnificus
Vibrio alginolyticus

Keep in mind‎
This site focuses on vibriosis. Other strains of Vibrio can cause a human illness called cholera.

How do people get vibriosis?
Most people get vibriosis by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters.

Some people get vibriosis after an open wound comes in contact with coastal waters.

How common is vibriosis?
CDC estimates that:

80,000 cases of vibriosis happen each year in the United States.
52,000 cases of vibriosis are the result of eating contaminated food.

Key points
●Vibrio are bacteria that naturally live in coastal waters.
●About a dozen kinds of Vibrio can cause people to get an infection called vibriosis.
●People can get vibriosis after swallowing Vibrio or getting it in a wound.
●Vibrio infection can be serious. Know when to seek medical care.

Nationwide, vibriosis from Vibrio vulnificus and other Vibrio bacteria causes an estimated 80,000 illnesses and 100 deaths every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). About 52,000 of these illnesses are believed to come from eating contaminated food, but the bacteria are also often found in flood waters, something Florida has seen a lot of lately.
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Complications
Some Vibrio species, such as Vibrio vulnificus, can cause severe and life-threatening infections.

Some Vibrio infections lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection in which the flesh around an open wound dies. Some media reports call Vibrio vulnificus "flesh-eating bacteria." However, public health experts believe group A Streptococcus are the most common cause of necrotizing fasciitis in the United States.

Many people with Vibrio vulnificus infection can get seriously ill and need intensive care or limb amputation.

About 1 in 5 people with this infection die, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill.

When to seek emergency care‎
Immediately see your doctor or go to the emergency room if you have symptoms of a Vibrio bloodstream or wound infection. Do not wait.

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Treatment
Antibiotics are not recommended to treat mild Vibrio infections.

People with diarrhea or vomiting should drink plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration. Dehydration is not having enough fluids in the body.

Antibiotics can be used to treat severe or prolonged Vibrio infections.

Vibrio wound infection is treated with antibiotics and surgery to remove dead or infected tissue. Surgery might include amputation.
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https://www.cdc.gov/vibrio/about/index.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fvibrio%2Fvibriov.html

[flamingdem]

3. Same thing can happen with eating oysters

harvested from too warm waters.

Really brutal and sometimes deadly.

[superpatriotman]

5. Put a NSFW tag on the OP

It’s very graphic for DU

[buzzycrumbhunger]

6. JFC...

When he was 17, my son lost his leg to necrotizing fasciitis. We’d gone shopping for my Mother’s day gift and had to stop in a hot parking lot because he thought he had a thorn in his shoe.

Next day, he was ill. We skipped my dinner out because he was oddly clingy. Then he got up to pee and had trouble walking because his knee hurt. A couple hours later, he tried to get up and almost immediately had huge, blood-filled blisters down his leg. Obviously not a flu or something normal for a kid, so we rushed to the ER (a 45-min drive) and they had trouble getting a BP. ER crew didn’t seem to know what was going on so put him in the Peds ward until the doc came in the morning. Luckily, a new nurse came on shift change and raised hell because this was NOT normal.

Long story short, it took six surgeries in seven days to progressively get ahead of the infection. They tried hyperbaric treatments for a couple days, then discovered it was a Strep that THRIVED on oxygen. Day 6, I insisted they remove the leg to get enough ahead of the infection to end it because he was barely hanging in and in such pain. (For some reason, they thought he’d prefer a skeletal leg to no leg at all “because he’s young,” which was ludicrous.)

It did the trick. His first question on waking up when I told him they’d had to take the leg was, “But I’m not going to die then, right?” It wasn’t like he was a jock; he could still do computer stuff. *sigh*

We spent six weeks at Shriner’s Hospital that summer doing rehab and getting a prosthesis. They had motel-type rooms for a family member to stay. He hated it, but got better. (I was shocked to find that Shriner’s aren’t just goofy grandpas on tiny motorcycles—they pay ALL expenses in many hospitals across the country, even flying kids with orthopedic or burn issues for free care. This is my first recommendation if someone’s looking for a charity to donate to!)

We later got a call from the FL Dept. of Health to ask about the infection and how he’d gotten it. They said the vast majority come from people wading barefoot, especially where there are broken shells—and it’s been booming here (that was almost 20 years ago and I assume is worse now). It’s logical that warmer waters would help it spread. DON’T mess around with this just because you think you deserve your Florida vacation. It’s not worth it. I shudder to think of this being so widespread.

[Deuxcents]

9. I've gone barefoot almost my whole life..and still do..but I'm gonna be more careful after your post

My grandfather was a Shriner and I’m a supporter of Shriner’s Hospital and yours is the first time I’ve heard an experience with them other than on tv or the mailings I get. Thank you

[LeftInTX]

12. OMG!

[duncang]

7. My wife had it on her right leg.

They did a lot of treatments at the hospital. But even when she was sent home she had an intravenous picc line. Every so often we hooked up what looked like a clear tennis ball that had her medications in. The infection maxed out at about 5-6 inches wide. I can’t remember how long it took to clear up. But it seemed like forever.

[Geechie]

8. Have you posted to the Florida page?

I’m not really sure how to do that other than just cutting and pasting but wanted to ask you first.

This is very useful — I just alerted some friends in Fort Myers in case they hadn’t heard about it yet. Thank you for posting it!

[littlemissmartypants]

10. I will in a moment. TY for the suggestion, Geechie. ❤️

[Geechie]

11. Thank YOU!