Pubdate: Fri, 22 Sep 2000
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2000 The Toronto Star
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Author: Reuters News Agency

FLESH EATING DISEASE KILLS ADDICT

Israeli doctors say they have found yet another reason to avoid sharing needles: It can pass on deadly flesh eating bacteria.

A 38 year old heroin user who died of the bacterial infection passed it to his wife, with whom he regularly shared needles, they say.

The bacteria get into the bloodstream and can lodge in tissue anywhere, destroying it. The condition is known as necrotizing fasciitis.

In the reported case, the infection was caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. It got into the bloodstream of both patients and started attacking tissue.

The 32 year old wife survived, perhaps because her family doctor had given her antibiotics early on in the infection to treat a swollen knee, the doctors say.

Too late the save the man, the woman explained that they were heroin users and shared needles.

The doctors figured out that was how the bacteria got passed on and quickly treated the woman for a blood infection.
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