A WOMAN was left battling a serious drug-resistant skin infection that oozed pus for weeks after bathing in shallow seawater at a holiday hotspot.
Medics who treated the 74-year-old traced it to a rare marine bacteria that can resist antibiotics and linger deep in the flesh.
The woman, from Italy, had scraped her shin two weeks earlier when she fell onto some rocks.
After swimming with the open wound in the shallow waters of Valencia, Spain, it quickly began to swell and discharge pus.
When she got home she headed to San Paolo Hospital in Milan where doctors found a soft tissue infection called Shewanella putrefaciens under the skin of her leg.
It is a seawater-dwelling bug that’s rarely seen in humans.
This bacterium is known for its ability to survive both in saltwater and in human tissue, making it particularly dangerous for those with open wounds or weakened immune systems.
Doctors used an ultrasound to get a better look at the infection, which was about the size of a large smartphone and stretched nearly 10cm long.
It showed that the infection wasn’t just confined to the surface of the skin but had spread into the deeper tissues underneath, which often makes it harder to treat.
The unidentified woman was given amoxicillin, a first-line antibiotic, and underwent wound cleaning, but her symptoms failed to improve.
Despite no fever or signs of spreading infection, the lesion refused to heal for weeks.
A second-line antibiotic, ciprofloxacin was prescribed, but the woman stopped after five days due to side effects.
Writing about the case in the Journal of Medical Case Reports, the authors said: “Wastewater discharged from treatment plants and facilities into the sea, which contains antibiotics and heavy metals, may play a role in the development of antibiotic resistance.”
Fortunately, by then the infection had begun to resolve itself, and the wound eventually closed.
But she was left with lingering ankle swelling, likely caused by lymphatic damage, doctors said.
Journal of Medical Case ReportsThe wound healed – but she he was left with lingering ankle swelling[/caption]What is Shewanella putrefaciens?
Shewanella putrefaciens is a bacteria found in seawater and seafood. It’s usually harmless but can cause infections, especially in people with weak immune systems.
Where is it found?
Coastal and marine waters Fish and seafood Wastewater treatment areasSymptoms of infection
Red, swollen skin Pus from a wound Fever (sometimes)What to do if you have it
If you think you have an infection:
See a doctor right away. You may need antibiotics to treat it. In some cases, the wound may need cleaning (debridement) Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Woman’s leg left rotting with infection after swimming in the sea in holiday hotspot )
Also on site :
- JoJo Siwa reveals secret bedtime scenes with Chris Hughes that DIDN’T air on TV amid romance rumours
- Mitchell Robinson shrugs off his growing Knicks issue
- Wrestling Veteran Addresses Alberto Del Rio’s Future Following WWE’s AAA Takeover