Travel safe. A mysterious infection worries the US

Alarm in the United States because of a rare blood infection that is affecting many people in Wisconsin (USA). Since last November forty people fell ill, after contracting a bacteria called Elizabethkingia ANOVIS, as reported recently by the Department of Health of the US state. Eighteen of these have died. In the statement of the same department, it reads: "The Department of Health of Wisconsin is currently investigating about an epidemic of blood infections caused dall'Elizabethkingia. Most infected patients have an age around 65 years, and all patients have suffered at least once of a serious illness. " A contagion risk, in fact, are individuals with a weak immune system, compromised also because of certain diseases. Symptoms include shortness of breath, fever, chills and cellulite. However, further tests would be needed to try to figure out what the source of this infection because this is still unknown. In any case after an initial guidance on the treatment, the statement said "there has been a rapid identification of cases and health has been able to treat and improve the condition of patients." L 'Elizabethkingia ANOVIS, formerly known as Flavobacterium meningosepticum and how Chryseobacteriummeningosepticum, is a ubiquitous bacterium in water. Most infections with E. meningoseptica EDI nosocomial origin, both in children and in adults, and predisposing to infection risk factors are negliadulti preexisting immune dysfunction in children and premature birth. However, infections Elizabethkingia can also occur in immunocompetent hosts, and a previous study carried out in Taiwan haregistrato an increased incidence of bacteremia caused by Elizabethkingia. Because the clinical manifestations of infection and laboratory Elizabethkingia are not patognomiche, early microbiological diagnosis is essential in selecting the appropriate antibiotic therapy ensuring favorable prognosis for the patient. The "Door of Rights" that is also involved in protecting the health of citizens, brings to public attention the warnings of the US Department of Health, also useful for those who also travels to avoid infection from transmissible diseases or viruses. In recent years, many patients have been diagnosed nosocomial infections caused by Elizabethkingia, but very few cases reported in the literature. You will be traveling to that destination are frequent, shows John D'Agata, president of the "Door of Rights", vigilance must be maintained for cases possibly Elizabethkingia imported into the EU, in order to increase awareness among physicians, health workers and blood safety authorities. However, cases imported into the EU have not been identified among immigrants and travelers returning from endemic areas, although it is a bacterium that appears to be widely distributed in nature, from fresh water to salt water or soil.