A woman has faced amputation of all four limbs after contracting a severe bacterial infection believed to have originated from consuming undercooked tilapia in San Jose, California.
The victim, Laura Barajas, 40, purchased tilapia from a local market in July, according to a PEOPLE Magazine report. Unfortunately, she fell ill shortly after eating it. Barajas, a mother of a six-year-old son, contracted the life-threatening Vibrio vulnificus, commonly known as “flesh-eating bacteria.”
Barajas underwent a horrifying ordeal which saw her admitted to a hospital where she battled the infection that resulted in sepsis and kidney failure. Her friend Messina relayed to KRON-4 that Barajas was placed on a respirator and underwent a medically induced coma. Detailing the severity of the infection, Messina noted, “Her fingers were black, her feet were black, her bottom lip was black.”
To halt the rapid progression of the infection and save her life, a heart-wrenching decision was made to amputate all four of Barajas’ limbs after a month-long hospitalization.
A fundraising initiative has been set up on GoFundMe to aid Barajas with her mounting medical bills, organized by her friend Messina.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned the public about the dangers of Vibrio vulnificus infection, which can be contracted through the consumption of raw or undercooked seafood or exposure of open wounds to salt water or drippings from raw or undercooked seafood. This severe infection can lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a rapid infection characterized by the death of tissues surrounding an open wound.
The CDC emphasizes the necessity of early and aggressive surgical intervention, including the removal of necrotic tissue, as the primary treatment approach in combating this severe infection.
