Vim & Vigor - Fall 2013 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center - (Page 6)

THE FIGHT OF HER LIFE After surviving a rare but life-threatening bacterial infection, Teri Trout wants to raise awareness of necrotizing fasciitis BY SOMER OVERSHON TERI TROUT, RN A reg istere d nurse at Ph elp s Co unty Re giona l Me dic al Ce nte Te ri Tro ut ne arl y los r, t he r life to a rare inf ec tion th at be gan as see mi ng ly inn ocen a t scr ap e on th e leg. To day, sh e advo cates recog nizing th e sym for ptoms of ne crotizing fas ciit is an d ac tin g fas t. , has dedicated her life’s work to taking care of other people and helping them to live happy, healthier lives. As a nurse at Phelps County Regional Medical Center’s Women’s Health Center, Trout is accustomed to the caregiver role; in July 2012, however, Trout was the patient, desperately ﬁghting for her life against a rare but deadly infection: necrotizing fasciitis. a puncture wound. The CDC, however, stresses that if a person is healthy and has a strong immune system with no underlying health conditions, the chance of getting necrotizing fasciitis is rare. WHAT IS NECROTIZING FASCIITIS? QUICK PROGRESSION OF INFECTION Necrotizing fasciitis is a serious bacterial infection that spreads rapidly and destroys the body’s soft tissue, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) website. The infection is commonly referred to as ﬂesh-eating bacteria or a ﬂesh-eating infection by the media. Some of the types of bacteria that can cause necrotizing fasciitis are Group A Streptococcus, Klebsiella, Clostridium, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus and Aeromonas hydrophila. Group A strep is considered the most common cause of necrotizing fasciitis. Bacteria from Group A strep generally cause mild or moderate infections that are easily treated. Sometimes, however, toxins made by the bacteria attack or destroy the tissue they infect, causing the tissue to die. “Necrotizing” means “causing the death of tissues.” The most common way of getting necrotizing fasciitis is when bacteria enter the body through a break in the skin, such as a cut, a scrape, a burn, an insect bite or 6 FA L L 2 013 Sunday, July 8, 2012. Trout slips while she is cleaning the shower at home and skins two places on her shin. The skinned places do not appear serious; they do not even bleed. Monday, July 9, 2012. Trout is back to work at PCRMC when she notices her leg starting to feel strange and is swollen, burns and hurts when anything touches the skinned places on her shin. By 3:15 p.m., she is already Teri Trout's foot swells, blisters and requires emergency surgery.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Fall 2013 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2013 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center
Contents
Opening Thoughts
Up to the Challenge
The Fight of Her Life
Foundation
Step It Up
Your Mightiest Muscle
Well, Well, Well
Are You Doing More Harm Than Good?
Is Your Shut-Eye Serving You Well?
On the Cover
Anatomy of an ER Visit
Next-Gen Surgery
Attack from Within
Virtual Health
Show Me Better Health
Auxiliary
Calendar

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2013 - Phelps County Regional Medical Center