Latest news with #Streptococcuspyogenes
Sydney Morning Herald
27-05-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Rare but ‘catastrophic' bacterial infection behind NSW children's deaths
A rare but highly aggressive infection that surged after the lifting of COVID restrictions probably contributed to the death of two-year-old Pippa White, as well as resulting in the deaths of at least four more children in NSW, an inquest has heard. Associate Professor Kathryn Browning Carmo, acting director of the NSW Newborn & paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS), told an inquest into Pippa's death on Tuesday that hers was one of the first 'in a series of cases' of Group A streptococcus (iGAS) the emergency service dealt with over a two-year period. Carmo said NSW was largely 'immune naive' to what appeared to be a more aggressive form of the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes when doctors at Orange Base Hospital called for NETS assistance around 6am on June 13, 2022, hours before Pippa's death. The infection was rare but could lead to 'devastating, crashing and catastrophic' cases of sepsis in children, Carmo said, noting that some children could go from having very little water in the lungs to 'complete whiteout' on scans 'within hours'. 'It was that aggressive … it was an absolutely devastating illness,' she said. An academic paper co-authored by Carmo and read in court showed the NETS team were referred to 77 cases of children with iGAS between November 2022 and February 2024. Four died from the infection. In the previous five years, they had responded to just nine cases.
The Age
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Age
Rare but ‘catastrophic' bacterial infection behind NSW children's deaths
A rare but highly aggressive infection that surged after the lifting of COVID restrictions probably contributed to the death of two-year-old Pippa White, as well as resulting in the deaths of at least four more children in NSW, an inquest has heard. Associate Professor Kathryn Browning Carmo, acting director of the NSW Newborn & paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS), told an inquest into Pippa's death on Tuesday that hers was one of the first 'in a series of cases' of Group A streptococcus (iGAS) the emergency service dealt with over a two-year period. Carmo said NSW was largely 'immune naive' to what appeared to be a more aggressive form of the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes when doctors at Orange Base Hospital called for NETS assistance around 6am on June 13, 2022, hours before Pippa's death. The infection was rare but could lead to 'devastating, crashing and catastrophic' cases of sepsis in children, Carmo said, noting that some children could go from having very little water in the lungs to 'complete whiteout' on scans 'within hours'. 'It was that aggressive … it was an absolutely devastating illness,' she said. An academic paper co-authored by Carmo and read in court showed the NETS team were referred to 77 cases of children with iGAS between November 2022 and February 2024. Four died from the infection. In the previous five years, they had responded to just nine cases.
South China Morning Post
29-04-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong man suffers ‘flesh-eating' infection after acupuncture, amputates leg
A 47-year-old Hong Kong man has undergone an amputation of his left lower leg two days after developing a Group A Streptococcal infection following acupuncture treatment he received at two traditional Chinese medicine clinics. Advertisement The Centre for Health Protection said on Tuesday the man developed a fever and left thigh pain on April 11, and subsequently sought care from a private hospital, where he was diagnosed with septic shock and necrotising fasciitis, commonly known as 'flesh-eating infection'. He was transferred to Queen Mary Hospital the next day, and underwent a left lower limb amputation the following day. The centre said the man, who had underlying illnesses, remained hospitalised in stable condition. Group A Streptococcal infection is caused by bacteria, namely Streptococcus pyogenes, that can be found in the throat and on the skin. It can be transmitted by droplets and contact. The centre said the initial epidemiological investigations revealed on April 6 that the patient had sprained his back while lifting heavy objects, subsequently experiencing pain in their left hip and numbness in their left leg and foot. Advertisement The patient sought traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture treatment from two registered practitioners in Sheung Wan and Causeway Bay on April 7, 9 and 10. During the incubation period, the patient did not travel overseas or sustain wounds or other skin-breaking injuries, while his household contacts did not exhibit any symptoms.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Perry wins Olson Award at UTPB
Apr. 8—University of Texas Permian Basin biology lecturer Irene Perry has been recognized with the Olson Award. The laurel is given to a faculty member exemplifying the highest standards of teaching and service. According to the university website, Perry has been instrumental in mentoring students, coordinating research initiatives, and engaging with the STEM Academy. She is honored to receive an award named for James Olson, a founding faculty member of UTPB. Perry said he was the dean when she was hired full-time for the position she now holds. "I was surprised. I did not expect it when I went to the ceremony," Perry said. Perry works with a group of biology majors — Atlanta Williams, Laura Perez and Sui Tial-Khenglawt — on their undergraduate research. They are studying plants native to West Texas to see if they can protect red blood cells from breaking down. They came across three plants — one was on campus; one was in Perry's back yard and one was from Amazon, Williams said. The bacteria they used was Streptococcus pyogenes, which is most known for strep throat. "... The main thing we went with that is that a lot of people get strep. They can be carriers of strep throat, and when you're a child and you, like, get it back-to-back, usually they send you to ... get your tonsils removed. We think that if we can find a plant that can help with this bacteria, that can keep it from destroying red blood cells, possibly. That can be a new new option for people to take, instead of just going to get surgery, especially at a young age," Williams said. Perry said the idea is if you can find a plant to put in tea, or have in a tincture, that will be "less dramatic" than taking antibiotics, for example. Some people can become antibiotic resistant so they sometimes don't work or stop working. "Just one more tool in the toolbox," Perry said. The project will continue through April, she said. Undergraduate research day is all day April 25 in the library. Along with Williams, Perez and Tial-Khenglawt, will be presenting. Other students will also give presentations, Perry said. Tial-Khenglawt said the thing that's most interesting to her is how native plants can actually make a difference in health care. She added that she always thought that plants were very helpful when it came to medicine, but she didn't know they would find some here. Tial-Khenglawt is in her 11th year of living in West Texas, but has lived in Burma and Malaysia. Williams said she knew growing up that pants could have pharmaceutical properties. "... We live in close proximity with plants and we need plants to survive, so I wasn't surprised that we could find something in it, but just how quick it was and starting the research I didn't expect it" to have an effect, Williams said. Once she saw that it was protecting the red blood cells, she thought they just helped save the world. "That's how it starts," Perry said. Perry said they have presented their findings to the Texas Academy of Science meetings and their work will also be presented in the Undergraduate Research Journal at UTPB, which is online. Tial-Khenglawt and Williams were selected to represent UTPB at Undergraduate Research Day April 10 at the state Capitol, Perry said. She added that the students got money from UTPB to help them with research supplies. Perry said botanical pharmaceutical work is ongoing and many drugs have plant origins. "In general, the number's around 25 percent," she added. "There's a lot of things we don't know and there's a lot of things that we need to find out." Perez said Perry has been super helpful on the botanical project and always given her opportunities to learn beyond the project they are working. Tial-Khenglawt met Perry before she came to UTPB when she attended Falcon Day and got to talk to her. "She was always really nice ... She was also my advisor and she always helped me with everything," Tial-Khenglawt said. She gave Tial-Khenglawt a good recommendation letter and told her about scholarship opportunities. "She's always there to help anyone and is very deserving of the Olson Award," Tial-Khenglawt said. Williams said she has had Perry for a couple of classes. "Her teaching style has never changed. She's always passionate about what she does. She makes you love whatever you're doing and like Laura said you only hear good things about Miss Perry ... She's always bright and optimistic ... If you're having a rough day, you're probably going to leave smiling because she's going to probably tell a joke," Williams said.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Yahoo
Columbine survivor's death ‘best classified as homicide': Coroner report
DENVER (KDVR) — The February death of a woman who was shot during the 1999 Columbine High School mass shooting has been classified as a homicide. Anne Marie Hochhalter, 43, who suffered two gunshot wounds during the massacre, died on Feb. 16 at her home, according to her former principal, Frank DeAngelis. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office released a copy of her autopsy report on Wednesday. The report stated that two gunshot wounds Hochhalter suffered in 1999, resulting in her use of a wheelchair in the 25 years since, likely turned into further issues and led to her death. The report said that Hochhalter died of 'sepsis due to Streptococcus pyogenes.' 'Complications of paraplegia due to two remote gunshot wounds are a significant contributing factor,' the report stated. 'The manner of death is best classified as homicide.' Hochhalter's family previously said they suspected she died of natural causes stemming from her injuries from the massacre, where two seniors shot and killed 12 students and one teacher, then killed themselves. Another 21 people were injured by the gunfire. Hochhalter spoke out in 2016 in support of the mother of one of the shooters who released a book reflecting on the mass shooting, especially concerning her relationship with grief and battles with shame. Hochhalter wrote at the time in a lengthy Facebook post that she wasn't sure she would ever read the book but said she had forgiven the mass murderer's mother. In 2012, Hochhalter also spoke publicly in support of the families and survivors of the Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. 'I really hope the good stories will come out and show a community can come together just like Littleton did after Columbine,' Hochhalter said. 'I feel kind of helpless when I hear about these things and I want to help, I just don't really know how.' 'Thank God somebody reported': Parents react to Ponderosa High School bomb threat The Associated Press reported that Hochhalter struggled with intense pain from her gunshot wounds over the past 25 years. Yet her brother said she was tireless in her drive to help others — from people with disabilities to rescue dogs and members of her family. 'She was helpful to a great many people. She was really a good human being and sister,' her brother, Nathan Hochhalter, told The Associated Press. Hochhalter attended the 25th-anniversary vigil in April with her brother, who was trapped in a classroom during the shooting. She had not attended the 20th-anniversary event because of post-traumatic stress disorder, she said in a social media post last year. 'I've truly been able to heal my soul since that awful day in 1999,' she wrote. Others killed in the Columbine mass shooting were Rachel Scott, 17; Daniel Rohrbough, 15; William David Sanders, 47; Kyle Velasquez, 16; Steven Crunow, 14; Cassie Bernall, 17; Isaiah Shoels, 18; Matthew Kchter, 16; Lauren Townsend, 18; John Tomlin, 16; Kelly Fleming, 16; Daniel Mauser, 15, and Corey DePooter, 17. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
