Miss World finalist has her hands and feet amputated

[Beyond Belief]

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common bacterium which can cause diseases in animals, including humans. It is found in soil, water, most man-made environments throughout the world. It thrives not only in normal atmospheres, but also with little oxygen, and has thus colonised many natural and artificial environments. It uses a wide range of organic material for food; in animals, the versatility enables the organism to infect damaged tissues or people with reduced immunity. The symptoms of such infections are generalised inflammation and sepsis. If such colonisations occur in critical body organs such as the lungs, the urinary tract, and kidneys, the results can be fatal[1]. Because it thrives on moist surfaces, it is also found on and in medical equipment including catheters, causing cross infections in hospitals and clinics. It is also implicated in the condition "hot-tub rash," a form of dermatitis associated with poor hygiene and low maintenance of hot tubs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudomonas_aeruginosa

 

[GetSmart]

Brazil model who lost hands, feet dies

Jan 24, 8:03 AM (ET)

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) - Health officials say a Brazilian model whose feet and hands were amputated because of an infection has died.

Officials said in a statement early Saturday that 20-year-old Mariana Bridi's condition deteriorated overnight. She died at 2:30 a.m.

The Espirito Santo State Health Secretariat said in the statement she died from complications related to a generalized infection. It was caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is known to be resistant to multiple kinds of antibiotics.

Bridi had been in the hospital in the city of Serra in southeastern Brazil since Jan. 3. She fell ill in December and doctors originally diagnosed her with kidney stones, local media said.

Bridi was twice a finalist in the Brazilian stage of the Miss World pageant.


http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090124/D95TH53G0.html

 

[txsvicki]

How sad, such a beautiful girl. She must have been in bad pain at first if she was mistakenly diagnosed with kidney stones. I wonder how the infection got into her body to begin with or if she was somehow immune compromised.

 

[Laneymae]

I just heard that she died yesterday. I am so very sad for her and her family. So surprising.

 

[lizzybeth]

Hi no from what I read she was diagnosed wrongly with Kidney stones first

Thanks. I get it. It took me a while but I got it. I've heard of people contracting it after being in the hospital already. As a matter of fact we have one hospital in the area that has had this happen numerous times.

 

[Boyz_Mum]

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common bacterium which can cause diseases in animals, including humans. It is found in soil, water, most man-made environments throughout the world. It thrives not only in normal atmospheres, but also with little oxygen, and has thus colonised many natural and artificial environments. It uses a wide range of organic material for food; in animals, the versatility enables the organism to infect damaged tissues or people with reduced immunity. The symptoms of such infections are generalised inflammation and sepsis. If such colonisations occur in critical body organs such as the lungs, the urinary tract, and kidneys, the results can be fatal[1]. Because it thrives on moist surfaces, it is also found on and in medical equipment including catheters, causing cross infections in hospitals and clinics. It is also implicated in the condition "hot-tub rash," a form of dermatitis associated with poor hygiene and low maintenance of hot tubs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudomonas_aeruginosa

Thank you for this link. I wasn't sure how the germ entered the body- I only knew of it in the dermatitis realm. (A doctor told us that white vinegar can kill pseudomonas on the skin, our son bathes with it at least once a week because of his skin problem.)

My condolences to the family and may Ms Bridi rest in peace.