Woman loses leg to necrotizing bacteria after zip line accident

Woman loses leg to necrotizing bacteria after zip line accident - A 24-year-old Georgia woman remains in critical condition after contracting necrotizing, flesh-eating bacteria during a zip line accident, ABC News reports.

photo : flickr

Aimee Copeland cut her leg when the homemade zip line she was using to cross the Little Tallapoosa River broke on May 1.

It is theorized that Copeland contracted the bacteria, called Aeromonas hydrophila, from the water, creating a condition known as necrotizing fasciitis. The bacteria have claimed her left leg and part of her abdomen.

"The bacteria produce enzymes that can dissolve muscle deep down," Dr. William Schaffner, president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, told ABC News. "And because it's so deep, it can be a sneaky infection that's not immediately appreciated by the patient."

Copeland had gone to the emergency room after the fall, where she received 22 staples to the gash in her leg, but returned the next day complaining of pain, for which she was given painkillers. She returned again on May 3, when she was prescribed antibiotics. That wasn't enough. She returned for the final time on May 4, when she was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis. That night, her left leg was amputated to the hip.

Even after the surgery, Copeland's condition has continued to decline. Her pulse stopped briefly yesterday, but doctors were able to resuscitate her. Her condition was reportedly stable by this morning, but she is not out of the woods. Copeland's father told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that doctors are still considering amputating the tips of her fingers and the toes on her right foot due to poor blood circulation.

Copeland's father told Fox News that blood donations are essential for surviving necrotizing fasciitis. "I want to create awareness about giving blood for this particular disease," he said.

A Facebook page called "Believe and pray for a miracle to happen for Aimee Copeland" has attracted more than 18,000 followers. A fund has also been set up to take donations to help pay for her treatment and rehabilitation.

ABC's "Good Morning America" has re-posted this recent interview with Schaffner about identifying the first symptoms of flesh-eating bacteria and the damage it can cause:

Source : http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/stories/woman-loses-leg-to-necrotizing-bacteria-after-zip-line-accident

Flesh Eating Bacteria | Aimee Copeland Is Fighting For Her Life

Flesh Eating Bacteria | Aimee Copeland

Aimee Copeland is currently fighting for her life after the young woman contracted a flesh eating Bacteria, known officially as necrotizing fasciitis, while zip lining with friends in Carrollton, Georgia.

The 24-year-old master’s student at the University of West Georgia was using a homemade zip line, while on a kayaking adventure with friends, when the line broke and left Copeland with a gash on her left calf.  The wound introduced a life-threatening infection which claimed her leg as well as a piece of her abdomen after surgeons were forced to amputate in order to prevent the bacterial infection from spreading.

Her father, Andy Copeland, told ABC affiliate WSBTV:

“It’s a miracle she made it past Friday night.”

Necrotizing soft tissue infections are rare, but are an extremely severe type of bacterial infection capable of destroying skin, muscle, and underlying tissue.  Streptococcus pyogenes (strep throat) is typically a deadly form of necrotizing soft tissue infection, it’s sometimes referred to as flesh-eating bacteria.

Copeland’s zip lining wound left her susceptible to infection and as the bacteria entered her body through the gash in her leg, it began to grow while releasing harmful toxins.  The toxins released killed tissue while inhibiting the flow of blood to her leg.  As her tissue dies, the bacteria will enter her blood stream and rapidly circulate throughout her body.

Dr. William Schaffner, chair of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, T.N., was quoted having said:

“The bacteria produce enzymes that can dissolve muscle deep down. And because it’s so deep, it can be a sneaky infection that’s not immediately appreciated by the patient. The symptom that should ring alarm bells is serious, unremitting pain. An otherwise healthy individual with a seemingly superficial injury who has severe pain should have a much more thorough evaluation. The two main treatment options are antibiotics to kill the bacteria and surgery. You have to look at the wound and think, ‘This is as far as the infection has gone; now I have to cut even further.’”

One week after the incident, Copeland’s temperature spiked and her pulse disappeared.  She was resuscitated shortly after with CPR.  Her father Andy was quoted by WSBTV having said:

“I don’t want people with long faces right now because we already had a miracle Friday night when she survived. [...] I just believe we have to stay positive right now to honor Aimee.”

The National Necrotizing Fasciitis Foundation has indicated that frequently washing ones hands and avoiding those with sore throats can help diminish the risk of contracting flesh-eating bacteria.

Source : http://www.inquisitr.com/233900/aimee-copeland-flesh-eating-disease/