The mortality rate is extremely high! This bacteria can "eat meat", so be careful in summer!

Produced by: Science Popularization China

Author: Earth's Gravity (Popular Science Creator)

Producer: China Science Expo

This article only represents the author's views and does not represent the position of China Science Expo. This article was first published on China Science Expo (kepubolan)

Editor’s Note:

Recently, according to reports from Guangming Online and other media, 82-year-old Mr. Wei accidentally spilled the fish washing water on his injured left foot while cleaning yellow croaker.

Unexpectedly, within a few days, his left foot became red, swollen, painful, and even numb. Doctors found that Grandpa Wei's left foot was infected with Vibrio vulnificus, a bacterium known as "flesh-eating bacteria" that is highly toxic and invasive, can cause serious infection, and even be life-threatening.

So what exactly are flesh-eating bacteria and how can we protect ourselves from them?

Part.1What are flesh-eating bacteria?

Flesh-eating bacteria are a specific type of bacteria. Although the name sounds scary, they do not actually eat meat. Instead , they release toxins when they infect the human body, causing tissue necrosis and damage, which is similar to the phenomenon of "eating" human tissue . After infecting the human body, they can cause a rare but serious infectious disease - necrotizing fasciitis.

Flesh-eating bacteria are not only harmful to the surface of the skin, they are also able to penetrate the skin and enter deeper tissues, including muscles, fascia, nerves and blood vessels.

It then spreads rapidly in the human body, infecting the blood and other organ systems, seriously threatening life. If not treated promptly, necrotizing fasciitis can be fatal in just 48 hours. Previously, fatal cases related to this bacterial infection have been reported in New York, Connecticut and North Carolina.

One of the most common bacteria that causes necrotizing fasciitis is Group A Streptococcus. However, recent warnings indicate that another bacteria, called Vibrio vulnificus , may also cause necrotizing fasciitis. Vibrio thrives in warm ocean waters, so most cases of infection are associated with swimming, fishing, or wading, especially during the summer and warmer months. Vibrio infections are relatively rare in the United States, with approximately 150 to 200 cases each year, but the infection has a high mortality rate, with 1 in 5 people dying from the infection.

Group A Streptococcus

(Image source: Wikipedia)

Vibrio

(Image source: Wikipedia)

When these flesh-eating bacteria infect the body, they release toxins that damage tissue, causing inflammation and necrosis, which can ultimately lead to tissue loss of function. The infection can spread rapidly, extending to surrounding tissues and organs, so treating flesh-eating bacteria infections is a race against time .

Part.2 Why do people get infected with flesh-eating bacteria?

Vibrio bacteria are primarily found in warm ocean waters, but can also be found where saltwater and freshwater mix, such as in estuaries. People who wade in these waters and have open wounds or sores on their bodies are at risk of contracting the bacteria. In the United States, most cases of infection occur during the warmer months, generally between May and October.

In addition, Vibrio may contaminate seafood in these waters, especially shellfish such as oysters. When catching these seafood, if scratched, Vibrio can enter the human body directly. Similarly, if you eat raw or undercooked seafood, it will also provide a quick channel for Vibrio to enter the human body directly. Vibrio is distributed in warm seawater around the world.

However, global warming has caused the sea temperature to rise, and the habitable area of ​​these bacteria is expanding from warm areas to the poles. According to a recent study, the spread of these bacteria in the United States is moving northward by about 50 kilometers each year. These bacteria were originally distributed in the states along the Gulf of Mexico, but now they have spread to New York and North Carolina further north. This has also led to an eight-fold increase in Vibrio infections in the eastern United States between 1988 and 2018. Scientists predict that by 2060, the number of infections may double from now.

Vibrio infection's northward route

(Image source: Reference 1)

Part.3Symptoms and treatment of necrotizing fasciitis

Early symptoms of necrotizing fasciitis are usually fever, redness, severe pain, and swelling at the site of the wound. If you experience these symptoms, you may need to see a doctor immediately because the disease progresses rapidly and can easily lead to death. Treating flesh-eating bacteria infections is a race against time. Clinicians usually inject antibiotics directly into the bloodstream to kill the bacteria.

In many cases, surgery must be performed to remove damaged tissue to stop the rapid spread of infection, but a slight mistake can easily lead to amputation. As the number of cases of Vibrio infections continues to increase, researchers are increasingly concerned that Vibrio will become resistant to certain antibiotics, making the infection more difficult to treat.

Part 4 How to protect yourself

Although necrotizing fasciitis is still very rare, it is spreading northward in the United States as temperatures warm, so it is helpful to know a little about prevention. First of all, it is important to note that people with open wounds, including those with ear piercings or recent tattoos, should avoid activities in waters where Vibrio may be active. Even if they do, they should use waterproof bandages to protect themselves in advance. Secondly, people with open wounds should try to avoid handling seafood. If they are injured by scratches at the beach, they should immediately wash them with clean water and disinfect them in time.

Part 5 Conclusion

This flesh-eating bacteria specializes in "eating" subcutaneous tissue and fascia of the human body. Once infected, it progresses rapidly and can endanger a person's life within a few days. Skin damage and low immunity may provide these bacteria with opportunities to take advantage. Therefore, everyone should pay attention to strengthening their own immune system and effectively resist the invasion of foreign bacteria.

References:

1. Archer EJ, Baker-Austin C, Osborn TJ, et al. Climate warming and increasing Vibrio vulnificus infections in North America[J]. Scientific reports, 2023, 13(1): 3893.