FLESH-EATING BACTERIA KILLS DRUG USER IN S.F.

San Francisco's Department of Public Health last night issued a
warning to intravenous drug users and their doctors about a
``flesh-eating'' bacteria that has killed one woman and sickened another.

Dr. Thomas Aragon of the department said the deadly bacteria is
apparently present in black tar heroin and methamphetamine.

In the past two weeks, three intravenous drug users have been
diagnosed with a bacterial infection that killed one 33-year-old woman
and put another patient in an intensive care unit.

Two of the patients, the 33- year-old who died and a 28-year-old
woman, injected black tar heroin and shared needles. The third, a
30-year-old man, injected methamphetamine, or speed.

The bacteria cultured from two of the patients is a Clostridium
species, most likely Clostridium perfringens, which is known to cause
this kind of infection.

Health workers say intravenous drug users may be at higher risk for
this type of infection and should seek medical attention if they
develop swelling, redness, warmth, pain or tenderness at or near an
injection area.

The department is also alerting doctors, nurses and other health
professionals to watch for any patients with these symptoms.

Health officials are alerting drug users not to share needles,
syringes, water, filters or other equipment. In addition, they warn
that heating or ``cooking'' drugs does not kill the bacterium.

Clostridium bacteria occur naturally, especially in soil, and health
officials say there is no risk of being infected from casual contact
with intravenous drug users.

(c)1999 San Francisco Chronicle