An elderly man from Florida found himself in a dire situation when he contracted an exceedingly rare and life-threatening infection in his implanted defibrillator after consuming a feral pig back in 2017. Following the consumption of the wild animal, which he had handled with his bare hands before cooking, the man unknowingly exposed himself to the sneaky bacterium known as Brucella suis, suspected to have been the cause of his subsequent health crisis.
Years later, the man started experiencing symptoms such as fever, pain, fluid buildup, and skin hardening on his left chest side. Upon diagnosis by infectious disease specialist Jose Rodriguez from the University of Florida, it was revealed that the bacterial infection had infiltrated his defibrillator, necessitating a complete replacement of the medical device.
Brucellosis, caused by Brucella bacteria, is the most common bacterial infection transmitted from animals to humans, with pigs being major carriers. These infections can be challenging to treat, especially when they infiltrate devices like defibrillators. In this case, the man had to undergo antibiotic treatment and device replacement to fully eradicate the infection.
Despite facing delays due to misidentifications and prolonged treatments, the man eventually overcame the infection. His story serves as a cautionary tale for those who consume unpasteurized dairy products or wild animals, like feral pigs, which are carriers of Brucella bacteria. The prevalence of these infections in feral swine in the US highlights the need for vigilance and preventive measures against such threats.
This compelling case study was detailed in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, shedding light on the complexities and challenges associated with rare infections in medical devices.
Vocabulary List:
- Defibrillator /dɪˈfɪb.rɪ.leɪ.tər/ (noun): A device that delivers an electric shock to restore a normal heartbeat.
- Infection /ɪnˈfɛk.ʃən/ (noun): The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in body tissues causing illness.
- Brucella /bruːˈsɛl.ə/ (noun): A genus of bacteria that can cause brucellosis typically transmitted from animals to humans.
- Eradicate /ɪˈræd.ɪ.keɪt/ (verb): To completely eliminate or destroy something.
- Symptoms /ˈsɪmp.təmz/ (noun): Physical signs or indications of a medical condition.
- Vigilance /ˈvɪdʒ.ɪ.ləns/ (noun): The action of keeping careful watch for possible dangers or difficulties.
How much do you know?
What caused the elderly man from Florida to contract a life-threatening infection in his implanted defibrillator?
Which bacterium was suspected to have caused the infection in the man's defibrillator?
What symptoms did the man experience, indicating an infection in his defibrillator?
Which specialist diagnosed the bacterial infection in the man's defibrillator?
What was the treatment plan for eradicating the infection in the man's defibrillator?
What was the publication where this case study was detailed?
Brucellosis is the most common bacterial infection transmitted from animals to humans.
The man in the case study consumed unpasteurized dairy products before falling ill.
The man initially thought his defibrillator malfunctioned due to a technical issue.
The infection in the man's defibrillator was easily treated with oral antibiotics.
Feral pigs are carriers of Brucella bacteria.
The man was misdiagnosed multiple times before the correct issue with his defibrillator was identified.
Brucellosis is caused by Brucella bacteria, with being major carriers.
The need for vigilance and preventive measures against Brucella infections is highlighted by the prevalence of these infections in feral swine in the .
The replacement of the man's infected defibrillator also required to fully eradicate the infection.
In rare cases, Brucella infections can infiltrate like defibrillators, making them difficult to treat.
The complexity of rare infections in medical devices was highlighted in the journal .
