'Bath-salts' injection leads to flesh-eating disease

- CBS News Live Feed
- CBS Shows

'Bath-salts' injection leads to flesh-eating disease

Updated:

HealthMore>>
Strokes more common in southern states
Strokes more common in southern states
While fewer people in the United States are dying from strokes, the number of strokes has remained about the same, health officials report.
While fewer people in the United States are dying from strokes, the number of strokes has remained about the same, health officials report.
Flesh-eating bacteria no cause for panic
Flesh-eating bacteria no cause for panic
Despite scary headlines by the score, most people don't have to fear that they'll be the next victim of the so-called flesh-eating bacteria disease, experts say.
Despite scary headlines by the score, most people don't have to fear that they'll be the next victim of the so-called flesh-eating bacteria disease, experts say.
Scientists turn skin cells into cardiac cells to help failing hearts
Scientists turn skin cells into cardiac cells to help failing hearts
In a medical science first, researchers turned skin cells from heart failure patients into heart muscle cells that may then be used to fix damaged cardiac tissue.
In a medical science first, researchers turned skin cells from heart failure patients into heart muscle cells that may then be used to fix damaged cardiac tissue.
Do bald men face higher risk of prostate cancer?
Do bald men face higher risk of prostate cancer?
Got hair? If you don't, you might have a higher risk of prostate cancer, a preliminary study suggests.
Got hair? If you don't, you might have a higher risk of prostate cancer, a preliminary study suggests.
U.S. teens heading for heart trouble
U.S. teens heading for heart trouble
Many American teenagers, including some with a normal, healthy weight, already have one or more risk factors for heart disease, researchers say.
Many American teenagers, including some with a normal, healthy weight, already have one or more risk factors for heart disease, researchers say.
Drowning is leading cause of kids' accidental death
Drowning is leading cause of kids' accidental death
Drowning kills more American children 1 to 4 years old than any cause except birth defects, according to a new federal report.
Drowning kills more American children 1 to 4 years old than any cause except birth defects, according to a new federal report.
Germs lurk in office kitchens, break rooms
Germs lurk in office kitchens, break rooms
Office kitchens and break rooms are germ "hotspots," and sink and microwave handles in these areas are the dirtiest surfaces touched by office workers on a daily basis.
Office kitchens and break rooms are germ "hotspots," and sink and microwave handles in these areas are the dirtiest surfaces touched by office workers on a daily basis, according to a new study.
Body building, diet supplements linked to liver damage
Body building, diet supplements linked to liver damage
Body-building and weight-loss products are the types of dietary supplements most likely to cause liver injury, according to a small new study.
Body-building and weight-loss products are the types of dietary supplements most likely to cause liver injury, according to a small new study.
Teens' love of loud music tied to drinking, drug abuse
Teens' love of loud music tied to drinking, drug abuse
In a new study, teens who loved listening to music blasting at high decibels on their MP3 players were also more likely than others to smoke marijuana.
In a new study, teens who loved listening to music blasting at high decibels on their MP3 players were also more likely than others to smoke marijuana.
8 all-natural allergy remedies
8 all-natural allergy remedies
In addition to over-the-counter and prescription medications, there are a few additional moves that can help ease the sniffles, sneezes and watery eyes of seasonal allergies.
In addition to over-the-counter and prescription medications, there are a few additional moves that can help ease the sniffles, sneezes and watery eyes of seasonal allergies.

MONDAY, Jan. 16 (HealthDay News) -- The use of street drugs known as "bath salts" can lead to flesh-eating disease, a new study warns.

It describes the first known case of necrotizing fasciitis caused by an intramuscular injection of bath salts.

So-called bath salts are sold as synthetic powders that "often contain various amphetamine-like chemicals," according to the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse, which in February warned that injections might cause the ravaging skin condition.

Study authors Dr. Russell R. Russo, a third-year orthopedic surgery resident at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Medicine, and colleagues, saw the effects firsthand.

They treated a 34-year-old women who developed forearm pain and redness after she attended a party. She didn't have any other symptoms but did have a small red puncture wound on her arm. The women eventually admitted that she injected bath salts two days before her symptoms began.

The doctors reexamined her and determined that she had necrotizing fasciitis. The disease progressed so rapidly that the doctors had to amputate the woman's arm, shoulder and collarbone and perform a radical mastectomy.

The women later underwent skin grafting and rehabilitation.

The study was published in the January issue of the journal Orthopedics.

"Despite the drug's legal status, it must be treated as illicit, and one must be suspicious when examining a patient with this clinical history because the diagnosis of flesh-eating bacteria can masquerade as abscesses and cellulitis," the authors said in a journal news release.

More information

The Public Health Agency of Canada has more about flesh-eating disease.

*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in or provided through this site section is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.

San Diego, California News Station - KFMB Channel 8 - cbs8.com'Bath-salts' injection leads to flesh-eating disease

'Bath-salts' injection leads to flesh-eating disease

HealthMore>>