12 deaths from bacterial infection in Essex

[SunsetBunny]

amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jun/25/rare-bacterial-infection-essex-invasive-group-a-streptococcus

Very worrying! It doesn’t say over what period the infections occurred or how it was transmitted.
The patients were mainly elderly & having treatment for wounds.

amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jun/25/rare-bacterial-infection-essex-invasive-group-a-streptococcus

I've just come out of hospital for this, well 6 weeks ago.

I went in the picture of health then fell ill within hours of giving birth to my daughter, luckily I was still in hospital when it took hold. I developed the added complication of sepsis.

There were multiple other private rooms on the ward that were in isolation aswell as my own so I presume I wasn't the only new mum to get this, these rooms were reserved for people who wanted to pay for privacy but they couldn't risk me infecting anybody else so at least I got to suffer in comfort, small mercies and all that. The doctors told me that the other people were not in isolation for the same thing which I find hard to believe.

I had infection control on the telephone asking me lots of questions about my health in general, that of those who i live with, have I been in contact with anybody who has been ill.

So yes, this infection is also rife in the south London area so I urge anybody local to me to avoid the hospitals unless completely nessecary.

Thoughts are with anybody else affected. This was the scariest time of my life and I'm eternally thankful that I'm here to tell the story.

To add I'm 25 and otherwise healthy.

Mischone, you've really been through the mill and it must have been awful. I'm glad you are OK now, look after yourself.

Gosh how scary for you mischone , hope you are now feeling much better.
I suppose they were trying to determine whether you contracted the infection in hospital or not.

I also had this recently in the form of pneumonia and a bloodstream infection causing sepsis. Although I have chronic illnesses which reduce my immunity slightly, I keep myself healthy, so was able to recover quickly, and didn't feel too ill, though apparently I was. Usually very rare in healthy people.

However, I can see how it can spread easily within a hospital or care home setting. Although I got very prompt antibiotic/fluid treatment, it was into the third day of my hospital stay before they worked out the bacteria causing the infection, and I was put into isolation. I was on a ward with 3 elderly ladies, and being treated by HCPs who were not wearing gloves etc who could transmit it to other vulnerable patients without being at risk themselves.

Another thing to note is that the antibiotic treatment wiped out my healthy gut flora and I got a very nasty c.diff (d&v) infection a couple of weeks later. Very risky in the elderly due to dehydration/risk of ulcers in colon. And again, very contagious if treated in hospital. GP was delighted I made telephone appointment!

Thank you blue and sunset

I'm doing alot better now, just struggling with a bit of anxiety as a result of it all.

lyrebird1 I'm sorry you got this too! Isn't it frightening. My immune system has also been rubbish since I was discharged, I've had at three separate ailments after coming home