Aimee Copeland loses her leg and at the risk of losing her hands due to ‘Flesh eating bacteria’

Flesh-eating bacteria has been a cause of concern for many people in the US especially Georgia where a 24 year old girl Aimee Copeland has been badly infected by it. Aimee has already lost her leg due to this deadly infection. This bacterium is medically known as Aeromonas hydrophila and it’s a highly rare, flesh-eating bacteria. Very rare cases have been reported or recorded so far when the bacteria actually ends up eating the flesh.

According to a news report by Huffington Post, owing to the flesh eating bacteria this young girl is also likely to lose her hands and feet. She isn’t doing well in the hospital and is breathing through a ventilator for now.

Aimee went to the doctor when a deep cut that she suffered from a homemade zip line fall got worse. Doctors found infection in the wound and diagnosed presence of what is commonly known as the flesh eating bacteria. The associated press reported that Even though the doctors cleaned and closed the wound.

According to the same news report, Andy Copeland, Aimee’s father told ABC affiliate WSB-TV, "I couldn't conceive of what it would be like for my daughter to lose her hands and the only other foot she has, as well, and that appears to be what is going to happen," "The most important thing is my daughter is still alive."

This is a pretty tough situation for the patient, her family as well as the doctors and they are trying their best to save and restore her life.

. Flesh eating bacteria usually causes diarrhea (when people swallow water contaminated with it). The first symptoms manifest on the very first day, and they include new wounds elsewhere (even though the original wound usually doesn't yet look infected), the sensation of pain somewhere near the original wound and flu-like symptoms.

The risk for necrotizing fasciitis increases when a person's immune system is already weakened; or when a person is facing several other problems like diabetes or kidney disease. Similarly cuts on the skin can also contract this bacterium or when the body has decreased infection resistance because of medications.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, almost 10,000 to 15,000 necrotizing fasciitis infections are reported in the U.S. each year, and it has caused almost 2,000 to 3,000 deaths.

Aimee Copeland is undergoing treatment but the doctors and her family haven’t disclosed what treatment is being given to her.