A Florida man nearly lost his leg when he contracted a nasty flesh-eating bacterial infection — after being bitten by a family member during a fight.
Donnie Adams, of Tampa Bay, developed a small, painful bump after a relative sunk their teeth into his right thigh as he attempted to break up a tussle at a family gathering in February.
Assuming it was just a harmless lesion, he took himself to get a tetanus shot and a course of antibiotics, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
However, three days later, Adams could barely walk.
The 52-year-old returned to Florida Northside Hospital in St. Petersburg and was immediately rushed into emergency surgery.
“I would’ve never imagined that a human bite would turn into something so horrific as a flesh-eating bacteria,” Adams told WFLA.
When wound care specialist, Fritz Brink, made his first incision, a gray ooze leaked from Adams’ leg.
Each additional cut revealed bright red, rotting flesh from his knee to his groin, Brink told The Tampa Bay Times.
About 70% of the tissue in Adams’ thigh had to be removed.
He then required follow-up surgery to remove the remaining infected flesh.
The flesh-eating bacteria, known as necrotizing fasciitis, kills tissue surrounding muscles and nerves.
While common among swimmers in tropical climates, doctors had never seen a case in which they were sure came from another human’s mouth.
Brink told The Tampa Bay Times that while it’s a unique transmission of the deadly germ, human mouths are a perfect climate for bacteria to thrive.
“A human bite is dirtier than a dog bite as far as the kinds of bacteria that grow,” the wound care specialist said. “Normal bacteria in an abnormal spot can be a real problem.”
If Adams had put off going back to the hospital for another day, Brink said the infection likely would have spread to his abdomen, putting him in danger of septic shock — which can be deadly.
Adams lost his own brother to septic shock, WFLA reported.
“If I would’ve waited and waited until the next day after our second visit, there was a chance I would’ve lost my leg,” Adams told the outlet.
After spending three weeks recovering from surgery at the hospital, Adams had to undergo six months of additional treatment for the serious wound, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Even still, Brink told the paper Adams’ positive attitude and strict adherence to a diet plan halved his anticipated recovery time.
He learned how to treat his wounds himself, and Brink continued treat to Adams even after his insurance stopped covering treatment.
Adams, who works at a funeral home, attributes his healing to prayer and meditation.
He has since buried the hatchet with his relatives.
“The parties involved are very sorrowful,” he said.
Still, Adams’ leg is heavily scarred and he suffers occasional pain — but he is grateful for the doctors that saved his leg.
