A person in Quang Nam died from infection with "flesh-eating bacteria"

SGGPO 10/23/2023 2:14 PM

On October 23, the leader of the Department of Health of Quang Nam province informed that the Department had received a report from Tam Tri Quang Nam General Hospital regarding the case of Whitmore disease, also known as "flesh-eating" bacteria, in the area.

Burkholederia pseudomallei bacteria cause Whitmore disease

According to the report, at noon on October 11, Tam Tri General Hospital received female patient NTTV (born in 1976, residing in Que Phu commune, Que Son district, Quang Nam province) for emergency care in a state of high fever, difficulty breathing, fatigue, and labored breathing.

After emergency treatment, the patient was diagnosed with severe pneumonia and monitored for sepsis. The patient had type 1 diabetes and had been off treatment for about a year, with complications of acute respiratory failure and acute hyperglycemia.

The patient was assigned paraclinical tests such as tests, X-rays, electrocardiograms, blood cultures, sputum cultures... But currently the hospital cannot perform blood and sputum cultures, so the samples must be sent to Phan Chau Trinh University.

However, at 4:45 p.m. on October 11, due to the worsening of the patient's condition and severe prognosis, the patient was consulted and agreed to be transferred to Da Nang Hospital for further treatment. However, the patient died shortly thereafter.

On October 14, Tam Tri Quang Nam General Hospital received the results of patient V's blood and sputum cultures sent back with the results that the patient was infected with the bacteria Burkholederia pseudomallei (causing Whitmore's disease).

It is known that in 2020, Quang Nam province had 10 cases of illness related to the bacteria causing Withmore disease and were treated promptly.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/mot-nguoi-o-quang-nam-tu-vong-do-nhiem-vi-khuan-an-thit-nguoi-post710997.html