Missourian News
October 25, 2006
‘Flesh-eating’ bacteria infects Mo. soldiers (http://columbiamissourian.com/news/story.php?ID=22446)
By TRACI ANGEL
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A U.S. Army Medical Command Epidemiology Team is investigating two cases of a “flesh-eating” bacterial infection at Fort Leonard Wood, an Army base in south-central Missouri, after two soldiers were taken to University Hospital for treatment during the past month.
The two soldiers — both of whom were in basic training, and had not yet been deployed overseas — are expected to make a full recovery, said Jeffrey Leggit, deputy commander of clinical services at General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital. The soldiers’ names and extent of their conditions are being protected under hospital privacy law, said Carl Norman, the Army hospital’s public affairs officer.
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One soldier, who was taken to University Hospital on Oct. 16, remains there for treatment as a result of toxins from the bacterial infection called necrotizing fasciitis, or NF.
The other soldier’s NF case was reported on Sept. 20, Norman said. He was treated, released and is undergoing further rehabilitation at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.
The epidemiology team from Fort Sam Houston began working on Monday in conjunction with state health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine the source of the bacteria. They are investigating whether others on the base could be carrying the bacteria and why only a few are being infected, said Eddie Hedrick, emerging infections coordinator and senior epidemiology specialist for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, who is working with the epidemiology team. The team also will be looking into commonalities between the two cases to help determine the bacteria’s source, Hedrick said.
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According to the CDC, necrotizing fasciitis begins when a bacteria strain enters the body, usually through an open wound or cut. NF is commonly referred to as a flesh-eating bacterial infection because toxins and enzymes are given off that feast on tissue layers and the fascia, which is strong connective tissue surrounding muscles. Symptoms include fever, pain and redness in the infected area. The infection spreads quickly and amputation of the gangrenous tissue is often necessary to save the host’s life and stop the infestation.
In these two cases, the bacteria introduced into the soldiers’ bodies was a strain of Group A streptococcus bacteria, the same bacteria that can cause strep throat, Hedrick said. There are more than 120 strains of this bacteria, according to the CDC.
“It’s a normal bacteria and often causes a sore throat, but through skin lesions, the organisms have the propensity to cause an invasive disease in the blood stream because of the tendency to produce toxins,” Hedrick said.
Hedrick said the infection can be spread in tight quarters, such as those on a military base, and from skin-to-skin contact where there is a skin opening for the bacteria to enter. But it usually doesn’t cause an outbreak of severe disease, he said.
“There’s no reason to treat people just because they were around (those infected), but we are reminding them about hygiene and to seek early treatment for any signs of symptoms,” he said.
Hedrick estimated that there are 10 to 15 cases of these kinds of invasive infections in Missouri every year. Nationwide, the CDC reported an estimated 9,400 cases related to the invasive streptococcal disease in 1999, which is the most recent data available. Of those, about 600 were classified as NF, and 300 were classified as toxic shock, a more advanced stage of infection. Hedrick added the number does not include several million cases of strep throat.
“On a broad scope, there are some things that go beyond the scope of care that we are able to offer here,” Norman said. “These particular cases fell into that broad scope.”
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‘Flesh-eating’ bacteria infects Mo. soldiers