Health officials say flesh-eating bacteria no threat to population

Art Nadler

Thursday, Oct. 8, 1998 | 11:11 a.m.

The death of a 58-year-old man who contracted a rare flesh-eating bacteria poses no threat to the general population, a Clark County Health District official said Wednesday.

The unidentified patient was transferred from MountainView Hospital to University Medical Center last week. He died from complications on Friday.

The bacteria, necrotizing fasciitis, is caused by strep A bacteria, which is similar to the bacteria that causes strep throat. It is not contagious, but it may be transferred by respiratory droplets or direct contact with secretions of someone carrying strep A.

"This is very rare," said Patricia Rowley, an investigator with the Health District. "It's not something that people get exposed to often."

The bacteria enters the body through an opening in the skin or through weakened skin. The best defense is to wash hands frequently and avoid people with sore throats.

"Wash your hands. The disease is spread 98 percent of the time by the hands," said June Constantino, senior public-health nurse at the Health District. "Don't break open blisters or pick them. Your body will heal itself if you don't pick."

Constantino said she has heard about only three such cases in the past five years. Necrotizing fasciitis is not a disease that's reported to the Health District, Rowley said.

Early symptoms include minor trauma and pain or a small skin opening. The groin, abdomen and extremities are the most common areas infected.

Eventually, body areas will swell and turn purple. The skin will show large, dark marks, blister and fill with a blackish fluid.

Penicillin is the most common treatment. Areas of the skin will usually have to be removed and skin grafts done.

Minimal scarring or death can occur.