Acute Bacterial Sinusitis With Epidural and Subdural Involvement

UK Man Gets Gnarly, Newly Discovered Infection From Stray Cat Bite

A man in the UK has become a medical first, though not in a great way. In a recent paper, scientists say he's the first known person to have caught a newly discovered bacteria from a stray cat's bite. Though the feline encounter resulted in a gnarly infection of his hands, the man was eventually treated successfully and made a full recovery.

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The case was detailed in the August issue of the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.

According to the paper, the 48-year-old man visited doctors with painful swelling in both hands, merely eight hours after he was bitten multiple times by a single feral cat. The man's wounds were cleaned and dressed, he was given a precautionary tetanus booster, and he was sent home with antibiotics. Unfortunately, he returned to the emergency department just 24 hours later as his infection continued to worsen. This time, doctors surgically removed the man's dead and infected tissue and placed him on intravenous antibiotics. Following another course of oral antibiotics, he made a full recovery.

The man's infected and swollen hands, caused by a previously undiscovered species of bacteria.Image: Jones, et al/Emerging Infectious Diseases

In trying to figure out the exact cause of the man's infection, the authors found microbes inside his wounds that resembled Streptococcus, a well-known group of bacteria that occasionally sicken people. But upon closer examination, the likely culprit didn't have a direct genetic match to any known species of bacteria. The team then decided to sequence the bacteria's entire genome and finally determined that the man had contracted a wholly novel germ.

The bacteria seems to be a member of the genus Globicatella. Until now, two species of Globicatella bacteria have been identified, with only one species known to rarely cause human disease. Cases of human Globicatella infection have caused some concern since the bacteria have shown reduced susceptibility to some commonly used antibiotics. But thankfully, most of the antibiotics that the authors tested against this new species in the lab did appear effective.

While this case has a happy ending, the authors say it's a cautionary tale. Cuddly as cats can be, their bites and scratches should be taken seriously, especially if they pierce the skin. It isn't just the potential germs in a cat's mouth or paws that make these bites and scratches dangerous, but the delivery method. A cat's claws and teeth can cause small but deep puncture wounds, which then seal up quickly and trap bacteria under the skin. These dangers are all the more elevated for people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly (in this case, the man seemed to have normal immune function).

"In conclusion, cat bites are common sources of zoonotic infection. This report highlights the role of cats as reservoirs of as yet undiscovered bacterial species that have human pathogenic potential," the authors wrote.

Cat bites in general should be cleaned immediately with running water and soap. People should also see a doctor as soon as possible since serious infections can arise within 24 hours or sooner.

North Carolina Reports 3 Fatalities From Infections Linked To Vibrio Bacteria In Warm Seawater

Three North Carolina residents died this month from infections from bacteria naturally found in warm seawater and brackish water, state health officials said Friday.

Cases of Vibrio are rare in North Carolina. While healthy people typically develop mild illness, infections can be severe or life-threatening for those with weakened immune systems or chronic liver disease, the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement.

The bacteria are naturally found in warm waters, meaning people can be exposed when open wounds, cuts or scratches make direct contact with seawater or brackish water. Vibrio can also sicken people who eat raw or undercooked oysters and shellfish.

Two of the three deaths this month involved scratches exposed to brackish water in North Carolina and another East Coast state. The third case also involved exposure to brackish water in North Carolina and the person also consumed personally caught seafood that was not shared or commercially distributed.

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North Carolina has reported three people died from infections that were linked to Vibrio bacteria in warm seawater. 

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No links were identified between the cases or the areas where they were likely exposed to Vibrio, and investigations are ongoing, officials said.

About 100 cases of Vibrio are reported in the United States each year, but because people with mild infections aren't tested, the actual number isn't known, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. About a third of reported cases are fatal.

Of 47 Vibrio cases among North Carolina residents since 2019, eight have been fatal, health officials said. Vibrio infection reports associated with brackish water contact have increased in recent decades and the range of waters associated with infection has spread north due to increasing water temperatures, officials said.

UTIs To STIs: 5 Infections You Can Get From Your Toilet Seat

We all know that our toilet seats are one of the dirtiest places in our homes. We may not think about it very often, but there are several infections that can be contracted from our toilet seats if we're not careful. From UTIs to STIs, here are five common infections that you can get from your toilet seat.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

UTIs are one of the most common infections that people contract from their toilet seats. UTIs occur when bacteria, usually present in urine, invade the urinary tract and cause an infection. Women are more prone to getting UTIs than men because of the proximity of the urethra to the anus. In addition, improper wiping after using the restroom can cause bacteria to travel from the anus to the urethra and can lead to UTIs. 

The symptoms of UTIs include frequent and/or painful urination, lower abdominal pain, back pain and cloudy or bloody urine. If left untreated, a UTI can cause serious health problems like kidney damage. The best way to prevent a UTI is to always wipe from front to back after using the restroom and to make sure to wash your hands with soap and water after going.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

One of the most common STIs that can be contracted from a toilet seat is herpes. Herpes is caused by a virus called HSV-2 and is easily transmitted through skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. It is possible to get herpes from a toilet seat if you come into contact with someone who has it and they have recently used the toilet seat. Herpes can also be spread through oral or genital contact or through sharing sexual toys, so it's important to practice safe sex and keep all sexual activities clean and hygienic.

Other STIs that can be contracted from a toilet seat include gonorrhoea, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV/AIDS. These infections are spread through direct contact with an infected person's body fluids, including semen, blood and vaginal secretions. Condoms are the best way to protect yourself from these infections, as well as regular testing for STIs if you are sexually active. 

Yeast Infections

Yeast infections are caused by a fungus called Candida albicans and can be contracted through direct contact with an infected person or by coming into contact with their bodily fluids. Yeast infections are often caused by having too much sugar in your diet or by taking antibiotics which kill off the good bacteria in your body that help keep yeast in check. 

Symptoms of yeast infections include itching, burning or irritation around the vagina or vulva area, thick white discharge and redness or swelling around the vagina or vulva area. Yeast infections can be treated with over-the-counter medications or prescribed medications by your doctor depending on the severity of your infection. To prevent yeast infections, it is important to practice good hygiene as well as wear loose-fitting cotton clothing and avoid douching or using scented soaps around your vulva area. 

E coli Infections

E coli is a bacteria that is found in faecal matter and can be contracted if it comes into contact with food or water sources that contain it. It is possible to contract E coli from a toilet seat if there has been recent faecal matter on it that has not been properly cleaned up. 

Symptoms of E coli include abdominal cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting which usually last for several days before going away on their own. It is important to make sure that you always wash your hands properly after using the restroom as well as making sure that all surfaces in your bathroom have been properly disinfected in order to prevent E coli infections. 

Salmonella Infections 

Salmonella is another type of bacteria found in faecal matter and can also be contracted if it comes into contact with food or water sources that contain it. It is possible to contract salmonella from a toilet seat if there has been recent faecal matter on it that has not been properly cleaned up. 

Symptoms of salmonella include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and fever which usually last for up to seven days before going away on their own. It is important to make sure that you always wash your hands properly after using the restroom as well as making sure that all surfaces in your bathroom have been properly disinfected in order to prevent salmonella infections. 

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