HILO BAY? YIKES!!!
I just recently learned that this past friday the 12th, about 2 million gallons of partially treated sewage spilled into Hilo Bay. Yikes! Apparently a failed alarm and pump system caused the sewage to bypass a few necessary treatments before draining back into the ocean.http://www.hawaiitribuneherald.com/articles/2007/01/14/local_news/local01.txt
They found out later in the week that bacteria levels were acceptable (as the sewage WAS partially treated), and people could swim in the water again by Monday, although I'm sure it had many lasting damaging effect on our marine life.
Learning of this in a casual conversation in one of my classes brought up the discussion of flesh-eating bacteria, something that a lot of people are afraid of. What is flesh eating bacteria, what does it do, and how does someone get it? Prepare to see a yucky picture at the end!!!
Maybe first I should explain what bacteria is. Bacteria are microorganisms with ONE CELL (aka unicelluar). They are EVERYWHERE. Most bacteria are helpful or harmless and some are harmful to humans, and some of them live inside our bodies! They're pretty dang simple, as they don't contain any membrane-bound organelles or any nucleus (picture the inside of a hot dog, maybe?), but can fix nitrogen and cause serious diseases among other things! Amazing, yeah? Bacteria also reproduce by cell division, and they can double in population faster than you can read this blog. I could go on and on about bacteria, but let's just keep it simple for the sake of the overworked student. To go more in-depth, go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteria#Cellular_structure
THE DREADED FLESH-EATING BACTERIA
Flesh-eating bacteria is otherwise known as Necrotizing Fasciitis. And what exactly is this "Necrotizing Fasciitis?" Maybe this site will give you an idea: Necrotizing Fasciitis
Necrotizing Fasciitis (say that 10 times fast!) is a RARE bacterial infection that grossly deteriorates skin and the soft tissues under it. Fat and fascia, or the tissue covering the muscles, die at a rapid rate thus giving the common gruesome name "flesh-eating bacteria."
There are actually a whole bunch of different types of bacteria that "eat flesh." One of the most common types is the same bacteria that causes strep throat, called Streptococcus pyogenes. These bacteria cause mild infections that can occur if you swim in salt water or touch crustaceans or raw ocean fish with an open wound, and you are more likely to become infected if you have cirrhosis, a chronic liver disease.
HOW THE HECK DOES IT GET IN???
Obviously, "flesh-eating bacteria" gets in through open wounds, but it can also get in through a muscle strain or bruise! Sheesh...this bacteria can be really persistent. It can also be passed from person to person through close contact such as kissing, but it's not very likely. Remember, this bacteria is rare, so don't freak out every time you pucker up.
DOCTOR, HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE?
Not much. You better get to the hospital ASAP. About 30% of people who develop the infection DIE. HEY NOW, DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY! Most people don't get it as it is VERY rare...let me say this again...it is SUPER rare. And even if you were so unlucky to get it, most cases are mild and can be treated with antibiotics if you get treated quickly.
Maybe first I should explain what bacteria is. Bacteria are microorganisms with ONE CELL (aka unicelluar). They are EVERYWHERE. Most bacteria are helpful or harmless and some are harmful to humans, and some of them live inside our bodies! They're pretty dang simple, as they don't contain any membrane-bound organelles or any nucleus (picture the inside of a hot dog, maybe?), but can fix nitrogen and cause serious diseases among other things! Amazing, yeah? Bacteria also reproduce by cell division, and they can double in population faster than you can read this blog. I could go on and on about bacteria, but let's just keep it simple for the sake of the overworked student. To go more in-depth, go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteria#Cellular_structureTHE DREADED FLESH-EATING BACTERIAFlesh-eating bacteria is otherwise known as Necrotizing Fasciitis. And what exactly is this "Necrotizing Fasciitis?" Maybe this site will give you an idea: Necrotizing Fasciitis
Necrotizing Fasciitis (say that 10 times fast!) is a RARE bacterial infection that grossly deteriorates skin and the soft tissues under it. Fat and fascia, or the tissue covering the muscles, die at a rapid rate thus giving the common gruesome name "flesh-eating bacteria."
There are actually a whole bunch of different types of bacteria that "eat flesh." One of the most common types is the same bacteria that causes strep throat, called Streptococcus pyogenes. These bacteria cause mild infections that can occur if you swim in salt water or touch crustaceans or raw ocean fish with an open wound, and you are more likely to become infected if you have cirrhosis, a chronic liver disease.
HOW THE HECK DOES IT GET IN???Obviously, "flesh-eating bacteria" gets in through open wounds, but it can also get in through a muscle strain or bruise! Sheesh...this bacteria can be really persistent. It can also be passed from person to person through close contact such as kissing, but it's not very likely. Remember, this bacteria is rare, so don't freak out every time you pucker up.
DOCTOR, HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE?
Not much. You better get to the hospital ASAP. About 30% of people who develop the infection DIE. HEY NOW, DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY! Most people don't get it as it is VERY rare...let me say this again...it is SUPER rare. And even if you were so unlucky to get it, most cases are mild and can be treated with antibiotics if you get treated quickly.
So now we've learned a little bit about a very harmful type of bacteria. I really go off the subject from blog to blog, don't I? I hope I didn't scare you all. I really thought the topic interesting because so many people talk about it but don't really know what it is. I wouldn't recommend teaching about flesh-eating bacteria to an elementary school class, though!!!
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