After being hospitalized for a month, he had to face kidney failure and limb amputation. Laura BarajasA 40-year-old woman became seriously ill after eating fish.
The case was registered in California, USA, and broadcast by KRON Media.Laura reportedly went to a local market saint joseph Buy tilapia. When he got home, he prepared dinner. From that night on, her health deteriorated and she had to be rushed to the hospital.
At the scene, they had to put her on a respirator and put her unconscious.Doctors began treatment, but without success, as a month later Laura developed complete sepsis, forcing doctors to amputation Save his life.
“They put her in a medically induced coma. Her fingers, feet and lower lip were all black. “She was completely septic, her kidneys were failing,” said Messina, Laura’s friend who spoke to the media. Cologne.
Messina assured that it could happen to anyone, and her friend ended up eating only fish bought at a local market. However, it wasn’t entirely fish that was responsible for the woman’s condition; some pointed out that the culprit behind the condition was a type of bacterium called “bacteria.” Vibrio vulnificus.
According to research published in Digital Magazine National Autonomous University of Mexico (National Autonomous University of Mexico), this microorganism is considered an “opportunistic” pathogen because it mainly affects Immunocompromised people (That is, their natural defenses against infection are weakened).
But it does not rule out that in some cases Affect healthy people when they present wounds.
Where is it located and what causes it?
this Vibrio vulnificus It prefers tropical climates and bodies of water with a mixture of fresh and salt water flows (i.e. estuarine waters), which is why it is commonly found among molluscs, fish, sediments, water and plankton.
For this microorganism to enter the body, at least two things can happen: either because someone with a cut or injury comes into contact with this type of water, or because they eat food contaminated with the bacteria.
It should be noted that it is in salt and fresh water that TilapiaLaura ate fish before she became ill, so it’s possible that this is how the bacteria entered the woman’s body.
this Vibrio vulnificus is part of a Extensive bacterial inventory This can cause damage to the membranes surrounding the muscles causing necrotizing fasciitis (i.e., a serious infection that destroys tissue under the skin) The way it spreads in the body causes it to be called Bacteria “eat meat”although doctors reiterate the term This is not correctbecause there are no bacteria that feed on meat.
It should be noted that such situations usually occur in extreme cases; in most cases, bacteria simply cause acute gastroenteritis (Occurs approximately 16 hours after eating contaminated food) or Wound infection.
However, when it reaches the body of a person who has liver problems or suffers from liver disease Yesweakened immune systemBacteria “take advantage of” and attack quickly, even causing sepsis (that is, causing the immune system itself to lose control and start attacking organs and tissues).
How to prevent it?
according to Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), to avoid or prevent this microorganism from affecting the body, you can take the following steps:
- do not eat Raw seafood or undercooked
- Wear gloves or wash your hands carefully after handling any of these foods.
- Avoid swimming or contact with Estuary waters if you have open wound
It should be noted that other cases have been recorded around the world, among which Vibrio vulnificus Already fatal (in Brazil and MexicoFor example).
Its presence has now alerted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which warned in 2023 that the microorganism has spread along U.S. coasts, from gulf of mexico and Caribbean Sea.
In addition, its existence has alerted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). USAwho warned in 2023 that the microbe was already spreading along the U.S. coast, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.
an unusual case
In one bizarre case documented in the medical literature, a man developed pneumonia and multiple organ failure after becoming infected with the bacterium.
The case was published in National Library of Medicine of USAThe story of how a 46-year-old man showed up at a hospital Sri Lanka Because he had fever, cough, yellow phlegm, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.
Within 24 hours of being admitted, his condition became serious and he had to be intubated and undergo a bronchoscopy.
By analyzing secretions from the bronchial tubes, doctors found the causative bacteria. Due to timely discovery and treatment, the patient recovered after 12 days.