Though it sounds like some exotic disease, the flesh-eating virus that killed a Baltimore girl Sunday is found all around, doctors said.
“We?ve seen it before, although it is uncommon,” said Dr. Maura Rossman of the city Health Department. Death or serious illness from a strep bacterial infection called necrotizing fasciitis can be avoided by standard hygiene and ensuring any cuts or wounds are properly treated, she told The Examiner.
Brantice Spencer, 11, died at Sinai Hospital after complaining of pain from a leg injury for several days.
It was her second visit to the hospital after receiving the injury June 6.
Sinai and the Health Department are conducting a joint investigation, hospital representatives said Wednesday.
“The Hospital believes that appropriate care was provided June 10 and June 11 given the symptoms with which Brantice presented upon arrival,” hospital representatives said in a statement.
“All indications are that Brantice did have necrotizing fasciitis, often referred to as ?flesh-eating bacteria,? and this is not contagious,” they said.
The disease is caused by a group A streptococcal infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Severe, sometimes life-threatening, group A streptococcal disease may occur when bacteria get into parts of the body where bacteria usually are not found, such as the blood, muscle, or the lungs,” the center?s Web site states.
Nationally there were 9,400 such cases last year, including 600 cases of necrotizing fasciitis. Of those, 20 percent were fatal.
Family members said the hospital could have saved her life.
Her grandmother, Wanda Geter, told WJZ-TV that Brantice was taken to the hospital Saturday, but doctors said she only had a bruise and sent her home.
Hospital representativeswould not comment further on the care offered, but expressed sympathy for her family.
“Our thoughts are with Brantice Spencer?s family during this extremely difficult time,” they said.
