Flesh-eating germs infect Utah woman

The Utah County Health Department is investigating a reported case of flesh-eating bacteria that infected a woman from the south Utah County area.

Health department officials declined to release the name or condition of the woman who is between the ages of 18 and 35 but said she sought care at a hospital in Utah County and was flown Wednesday to LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City via Life Flight.

The condition, officially known as necrotizing fasciitis, is an aggressive infection that is most often caused by group A streptococcus bacteria, the same type of bacteria that is often associated with strep throat.

"Strep A is a very common disease," said Lance Madigan, Utah County Health Department spokesman. "A lot of people are carrying it all the time. What is rare about this are the conditions that allow it to enter the body, and that's where the problem arises."

Most people will not be made sick by coming into contact with group A streptococcus, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

However, if the bacteria find a wound or opening in the skin or throat lining, the bacteria can enter the body and begin destroying skin and underlying tissue, which is why it is often referred to as "flesh eating." People with weakened immune systems brought on by other conditions also are at risk.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a fairly rare condition; the CDC reports about 600 cases per year in the United States as opposed to several million cases of strep throat. It is fatal in about 20 percent of cases.

Treating the disease involves a variety of antibiotics as well as surgery to remove the damaged tissue and to prevent the bacteria from spreading.

There is a low risk of transmitting the disease to people who have had direct contact with the infected person and have an open wound or sore that the bacteria could enter. People who have been in close contact with the patient are usually given antibiotics as a precaution, according to the CDC.

The best way to prevent against necrotizing fasciitis, the health department counseled, is to take common-sense precautions when sick.

"Any time you're sick, there's a few standard guidelines you should always follow," Madigan said. "Wash your hands frequently and use an alcohol-based hand soap. If you're sick, stay home from work. Don't spread it around."

The CDC recommends keeping a close eye on skin wounds that could become infected and allow the strep A bacteria into the body. Wounds that show signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, drainage and prolonged pain, should be looked at by a doctor. Sore throats should also be checked by a doctor for signs of strep, according to the CDC.

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E-mail: jtwitchell@desnews.com