Flesh-eating bacteria tied to black tar heroin use kills 7 in San Diego, health officials say

Ryan W. Miller | USA TODAY

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At least seven people in two months have died in the San Diego area from a type of "flesh eating" bacterial infection associated with black tar heroin use, health officials say.

Between Oct. 2 and Nov. 24, nine people who had injected black tar heroin were admitted to San Diego County hospitals with severe myonecrosis, San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency said Wednesday in a news release.

Seven were killed by the bacterial infection, which affects soft tissue and destroys muscle. Five were men, with the victims ranging in age from 19 to 57, the agency said.

One case of wound botulism, another bacterial infection associated with black tar heroin use, was confirmed in October, the agency said.

Investigators are working to determine the sources of the heroin, the agency said.

Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer, said those who use black tar heroin are at a higher risk of developing these bacterial infections.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, black tar heroin is created with crude processing methods that leave behind impurities and give the drug its dark color. The sticky and hard substance is often produced in Mexico and sold in the U.S., the institute says, and it is also usually injected, making those who use it more susceptible to infection.

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Myonecrosis can cause pain and severe swelling around a wound or injection site and throughout muscles, according to National Organization for Rare Disorders.

The infection can also create gasses under the skin and harm deep muscle tissue, which can cause tissue death and decay.

The skin often turns pale, then becomes reddish or brownish. Bullae, sacs filled with air or liquid, can form before the skin turns black or dark green, the National Organization for Rare Disorders says. The organization also says that the skin can harden and then break down and liquefy.

The infection is often associated with the bacteria Clostridium perfringens or Clostridium septicum, the organization says.

Myonecrosis can lead to amputation, paralysis or death. According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, it is similar to necrotizing fasciitis, the rare soft tissue that also causes the skin and tissue below it to die.

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