“Unprecedented.” And antibiotic resistant.
An unprecedented outbreak of a rare blood infection caused by the Elizabethkingia bacteria, which began in Wisconsin, has crossed into Michigan, officials said.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the case this week after a blood culture from a recently deceased patient tested positive for the bacteria, which is commonly found in the environment.
The patient in question was an older adult located in West Michigan with pre-existing health conditions, MDHHS said. In Wisconsin, the infection is suspected to have caused 17 deaths out of 54 known cases…
Symptoms of the blood infection include shortness of breath, fever, chills and cellulitis. The Michigan Health Department notes the infection is difficult to treat with antibiotics as the bacteria are usually resistant. Medical professionals are urged to look out for early signs of the infection.
An outbreak of the bloodstream infection caused by the bacteria in Wisconsin started late last year and has sickened 54 people since November. Seventeen of those patients are now dead, although direct causes of their deaths remain unclear.
***************************************************
The authorities haven’t discovered the root cause either.
A bacteria commonly found in the environment? 17 out of 54 fatal?…Mmmmm, very weird.
posted 3/21 801am Texas[Wash your hands]Time