EXCLUSIVEConnecticut woman, 41, critically ill with ultra-deadly flesh-eating infection that's sweeping across Japan - should Americans be worried?
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Doctors in Connecticut have treated a critically ill patient with the same rare, lethal flesh-eating infection that is spreading across Japan and leaving many sufferers dead within 48 hours.
Physicians reported the case — a 41 year-old female patient — in March, at the time when Japanese authorities first warned of a rise in cases.
The woman visited her local emergency room after a week vomiting, diarrhea, and trouble breathing.
Scans revealed fluid buildup in the left side of her lungs, as well as respiratory and kidney failure.
Doctors believe the woman's illness was caused by Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), an extremely deadly bacterial infection that has so far killed 77 people in Japan this year, the country's highest number of cases.
The patient's CT scans revealed fluid filling the left side of her lungs. She soon went into respiratory and kidney failure
As the patient's circulation got cut off, her toe started turning black. Doctors believe it may have to be amputated
It is believed the woman contracted the bug behind the condition, called group A Streptococcus, by breathing in infected droplets in the air, which are expelled via sneezing, coughing and talking.
Before seeking emergency care, a pulmonologist had prescribed the woman the corticosteroid prednisone, as well as antibiotics and a medication to widen her airways.
She reported asthma but no other chronic health issues.
However, her husband noted that several family members had recently been diagnosed with strep throat, caused by the common bacteria group A Streptococcus (group A strep).
In the hospital, the woman also had an elevated pulse and low blood pressure.
After three days in intensive care, the patient stopped urinating. One of her toes also started turning black from circulation being cut off and tissues dying.
Several days later, further tests revealed STSS from an untreated respiratory infection.
Most group A strep infections cause mild illnesses like strep throat.
However, when the bacteria spreads to the blood and deep tissue, patients can develop STSS — which kills 30 percent of those affected.
STSS often begins with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, and vomiting.
However, over time, blood pressure drops, while heart rate and breathing speed up, and vital organs like the lungs can begin to fail. And like with the Connecticut patient, the illness attacks healthy tissues and eats away at flesh, sometimes requiring amputations.
The US reported 145 STSS cases in 2021, according to the latest available CDC data.
Cases have soared in Japan, where over 1,000 people have been infected since the start of this year and 77 have died.
Although Strep A can cause a number of serious illnesses, it tends to begin with a few typical symptoms. This includes a rash, a sore throat, flushed cheeks, muscle aches, a high fever, an ear infection and sores on the skin
It's unclear exactly what is behind the Japanese surge, but Dr Ken Kikuchi, of Tokyo Women’s Medical University, told local new outlet NHK that immunity debt from the Covid pandemic could partially be to blame.
Immunity debt is when the immune system becomes weaker after not being exposed to a variety of pathogens.
'We can boost immunity if we are constantly exposed to bacteria. But that mechanism was absent during the coronavirus pandemic,' Dr Kikuchi said.
'So, more people are now susceptible to infection, and that may be one reason for the sharp rise in cases.'
However, American experts have stated that it's unlikely the surge will spread to the US, and the condition is still rare.
Dr Andrew Steer, director of infection, immunity, and global health at Murdoch Children's Rsearch Institute in Australia, told the Washington Post: 'We’ve had Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome and invasive strep A infection in the US for decades and decades and decades, hundreds of years.'
'It’s still an uncommon infection, but the community and doctors should be aware that there is an increase in the number of cases.'
And though cases are rising in Japan, experts have warned that influenza and Covid infections are much higher. For example, more than 746,000 Covid infections have been reported this year through June 9, according to reports from more than 5,000 hospitals.
And Japan's health ministry has ensured tourists that there is no need to cancel travel plans to the country, Bloomberg reported.
STSS often results from a person having an open wound being exposed to the bacteria, given it an easier way to infect deeper tissues.
However, in many cases, the exact cause of STSS cannot be identified.
US experts have urged patients to be vigilant with open wounds, ensuring they are cleaned and dressed effectively.
The Connecticut patient has completed a course of antibiotics and inpatient rehab, though doctors noted she may need to have one toe amputated.
The case report was published in the journal Cureus.
