A 50-year-old Florida man has had about 25 percent of his skin removed after being stricken with potentially deadly flesh-eating bacteria.
The man has undergone three operations, which removed about 25 percent of his skin, and is scheduled for one more after contracting flesh-eating bacteria, his wife said.
Jody Ireland added that five days later, when her husband’s condition took a turn for the worse, she took him to the hospital.
“It was unexpected,” she told Fox News. “He was fine one minute and sick the next.”
His kidneys have since failed and doctors have had to remove more than 25 percent of his skin.
“I’m a mess. I’m trying to be strong for my kids. I miss him. I want my husband back,” she told Fox News, adding that her husband “is not responsive at all.”
“He has had three surgeries to remove over 25 percent of the skin on his body,” Daniel Ireland said, adding that there are encouraging indications his brother may pull through.
“His blood pressure and acid numbers from his liver are starting to level off, showing a hopeful sign of recovery,” he said.
Daniel Ireland set up a GoFundMe page to “cover his hospital bills, living expenses for his wife, Jody Ireland, and their two young girls, Ruth and Rebekah.”
His wife stated on Aug. 26: “David will need to have surgery to do a reversible colostomy to help prevent his bowel movements from entering his open wounds. They will also be checking for more infection and if so taking more skin off.”
Jody Ireland told Fox News she was informed by medical staff that the bacteria entered her husband’s body through an open wound on his leg and “because he is diabetic, the bacteria turned into strep and started eating his flesh.”
Virginia Woman Gets Flesh-Eating Bacteria After Visiting Beach
The case follows the story of a Virginia woman, who was diagnosed with a flesh-eating infection after visiting a local beach.“I noticed this thing that came on my leg,” she told the TV station. “I ignored it for a couple days, and it just started getting bigger and bigger and bigger to the point where I couldn’t walk anymore.”
Edwards said doctors diagnosed her with a staph infection caused by flesh-eating bacteria. They drained the swollen area and prescribed antibiotics.
Dead After Walking on Florida Beach
Various cases of flesh-eating bacteria have been reported in Florida in recent months.The condition can be caused by several different types of bacteria, and is often known by the medical term “necrotizing fasciitis.”
“Necrotizing means causing the death of tissues,” according to the CDC, noting that the condition is rare.
“Fasciitis means inflammation of the fascia (the tissue under the skin that surrounds muscles, nerves, fat, and blood vessels),” the agency says on its website.
One in 3 Cases Result in Death
The condition is more likely to occur in those with conditions that lower immunity, notably diabetes, kidney problems, cirrhosis of the liver, and cancer.According to the CDC, early symptoms of the condition include a red or swollen area of skin that spreads quickly, severe pain, including pain beyond the area of the skin that is red, and a fever.
Although these symptoms can also be caused by minor illnesses, the CDC warns to err on the sided of caution. “See a doctor right away if you have these symptoms after an injury or surgery.”
“Later symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis can include: Ulcers, blisters, or black spots on the skin … changes in the color of the skin … pus or oozing from the infected area,” the agency says.
Dizziness, fatigue, diarrhea, and nausea are also symptoms.
“Even with treatment, up to 1 in 3 people with necrotizing fasciitis die from the infection,” according to the CDC website. Fortunately, the condition is not infectious and very rarely can be passed on through contact.
