Posted on 10/28/2004 1:10:01 PM PDT by Samwise
The Marion County coroner has determined that an Avon girl died from a rare bacteria that took over her body.
Doctors didn't know what was wrong with Sarah Backlund when she was taken to Methodist Hospital Saturday night, RTV6's Camille Amiri reported.
Doctors amputated Backlund's arm, hoping to get rid of the infection, but it was too late. The 16-year-old Avon High School sophomore died the next day.
The bacteria that caused Backlund's death was determined to be clostridia septicum, also known as gangrene.
"It's just a bacteria that completely overwhelms the body's immune system," Marion County Coroner John McGoff said.
Doctors said the bacteria is not contagious, but the suddenness of Backlund's death does have some people concerned.
The bacteria was determined to be clostridia septicum, also known as gangrene.
"I'm concerned about the circumstances that led to her death. We don't have very much information ... including my son," parent Michelle Poteat said.
McGoff said it's impossible to determine how Backlund contracted the bacterial infection. He said it's possible that a minor injury could have led to her illness.
"For the general public, this is incredibly rare. One in a million people contract it, and it is definitely not contagious," McGoff said.
Backlund recently moved to central Indiana from Florida, Amiri reported.
Worth repeating?
I'm still trying to figure out how you get it.
The below is from a medical site. Apparently it's not THAT rare, with 3000 cases per year. Very sad.
You get it in a cut or sore.
You need the organism to get in via a wound - usually a penetrating wound ( even a small one ) ....scrapes or cuts don't count because the organism is killed by oxygen. These organisms are everywhere in the environment ( mostly in soil ) but need anaerobic conditions to live. Any dead, decaying tissue will support its growth. Seems strange they couldn't recognize gangrene in a hospital - it's not that hard to spot. It can be nasty to treat. Side note : you used to see these cases in women who had undergone botched abortions ( dirty instruments etc ).
Bush's fault.
Thanks, everyone! So it's really nothing to worry about if you clean penetrating wounds when they occur. Right?
For the most part, yes, but you really can't clean out a puncture wound all that well. A bee sting is supposed to be at risk, too. Also keep your tetanus shots up to date.
"So it's really nothing to worry about if you clean penetrating wounds when they occur. Right?
"
Pretty much, yes. However, deep penetrating wounds are very hard to clean thoroughly. Such a wound, as from stepping on a nail, etc., should send you to the doctor, who will clean it properly, give you a tetanus shot (tetanus is also caused by a clostridium species) and otherwise check your injury.
You needn't go to the emergency room. An urgent care doc-in-the-box will be fine.
Right - cleaning ( especially with peroxide ) goes a long way to avoiding the problem. But.....( there's ALWAYS a 'but' ) any wound ( especially penetrating ) that significantly gets worse over time needs to be checked out. Just remember that penetrating wounds will always take longer to heal than a cut or scrape on the surface of the skin....but they shouldn't get worse over time.
Thanks, again. Give freepers a few minutes and they can figure out anything.
Most of those little bugs require anaerobic conditions so think untreated, deep puncture wound. A lot of the clostridia family are everywhere, like anthrax, particularly around farm animals. Fear of gangrene was a major factor in a lot of battlefield amputations until penicillin, if I'm correct. Once any of the necrotizing bugs get rolling in a person they are difficult to stop.
Rural area. That's probably it.
Holy Cow! I thought it was rare. So 750 people a year die a death that has to be as bad as dying from rabies. That isn't exactly rare. A body sure can learn a lot hanging around here.
My daughter cut her finger once when she was about four years old. It wasn't a deep cut, nor was it very big, but we cleaned it and put Neosporin and a Band Aid on it. Within three days it was huge and swollen and very painful and had a huge blister on it. The doctors at the Children's Hospital couldn't figure out what was wrong with it and were actually considering amputation because they were concerned about the infection spreading.
We finally found a dermatologist who diagnosed it as a herpetic whitlow. She determined that Daddy, who gets cold sores frequently, probably kissed the boo boo while he had a cold sore and infected our daughter. She also said that the poking and probing by all of the other doctors caused it to spread. Thankfully, we found her.
Woa! Glad she figured it out.
Me, too. Seeing my four year old strapped to a stretcher screaming in agony while the doctors drained her finger and contemplating my baby having her finger amputated is not something I ever want to experience again.
Nah, I've already seen Hillery and her voice over the radio is bad enough.
C. Diff, responsible for a lot of deaths each year, is also one of the same family. Kind of like gangrene of the gut.
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