Last Friday, Assuta Ashdod Public Hospital reported on a 4-year-old girl who died, apparently, due to a virulent bacterial infection. The girl, who did not suffer from underlying diseases, was referred to the emergency room with a fever that had started hours before. “A laboratory investigation is still being conducted into the cause of death, the doctors suspect that it is a virulent bacterial infection,” the hospital said.
What is a predatory bacterium?
It is a disease caused by bacteria that invade soft tissues (skin, subcutaneous tissue, mucous membranes and muscles). There they multiply, produce destructive toxins and release them into the tissues. An invasive infection, which progresses rapidly and destroys tissues in its path, led to the use of the term “predator bacterium”. There are several bacteria that can cause this kind of serious illness, the best known of which is group A streptococcus.
How dangerous is a predatory bacteria?
Without quick detection and effective treatment that requires antibiotics (and sometimes surgery) – the disease is fatal.
How rare is that?
These are only a few cases a year, but the events evoke resonance due to the speed and violence of the disease, and also because some of them occur among young and healthy people who die or are left with a disability.
What are the known symptoms?
The disease is characterized by rapid deterioration, powerful, sharp and unexplained pain, followed by fever, weakness and changes in the state of consciousness. Sometimes the area of the diseased tissue becomes red, swollen and warm to the touch. Deterioration to rapid system collapse occurs within hours.
Who is at risk of contracting a predatory bacteria?
People with suppression of the immune system, kidney and liver patients, unbalanced diabetes patients. However, patients who were perfectly healthy people are also recorded.
What are the chances of recovery from a predatory bacteria?
As mentioned – without treatment, the disease is fatal. In recent years, there has been a noticeable decrease in mortality rates worldwide, thanks to early detection and treatment. Of the cases that reach treatment, the reported mortality rates range from 10% to 30%. Due to the surgeries required to remove diseased tissue, surviving patients are left with extensive scarring.
Prof. Matan Cohen, is a specialist in internal medicine and infectious diseases of the general clinic at the Beit Shemesh clinic – Jerusalem district