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Matthew McKinney: Chromobacterium Lake Bacteria Eating Boy Alive
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by Tina Kells | June 25, 2009 at 11:30 am
15760 views | 17 Recommendations | 25 comments
A bacteria called Chromobacterium violaceum has left 14-year old Matthew McKinney disfigured and fighting for his life. The common lake bacteria is literally eating the boy alive and doctors are racing to contain its effects. Fewer than 150 cases of Chromobacterium violaceum infection have been reported in the past 82 years.
It is believed that Matthew McKinney came into contact with the evastating water-born bacteria while swimming in Hope Mills Lake in Georgia on June 14, 2009. Matthew and his friend were swimming in the lake where it is believed he was exposed to the body eating bacteria.
The symptoms and progression of Chromobacterium violaceum are shocking. The lake born bacteria is so rare that doctors did not recognize it right away and treated Matthew McKinney for everything from flu to sinusitis. When lesions began to develop on his skin doctors finally started to consider a rapidly spreading and aggressive tissue eating bacterial infection.
About 2 a.m. on June 15, Matthew woke his mother, Chelseann, to inform her he wasn't feeling well. He had a fever and a runny nose. Later that morning, around 7 a.m., she took Matthew to the emergency room at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. He was given antibiotics, the father said, and told to come back if the medicine did not work.
McKinney said by June 18 that Matthew began complaining that his nose hurt. He continually was running a fever as high as 103 degrees. His mother, according to the father, took him back to the hospital, where he was prescribed another antibiotic and Tylenol 3.
On Friday, Brian McKinney said Matthew's nose began to show some swelling as did his left cheek and gums. He was admitted to the hospital that night.
Overnight into Saturday morning, the father said Matthew began saying he was experiencing a lot of pain in his face. A gap began to develop between some teeth, which was unusual since he recently had finished wearing braces, the father said. Two of Matthew's teeth fell out Saturday because the bone in his gums were decaying.
By Saturday morning, the father said, several specialists had been called in and doctors decided to conduct a surgery to drain Matthew's sinuses, believing he had sinusitis. But after a three-hour surgery, according to the father, doctor told the family they could find nothing, and contacted UNC Hospitals.
Once the Chromobacterium violaceum bacteria began to eat at Matthew McKinney's face doctors had to take quick action. They operated in a life and death surgery to try to remove the bacteria that was eating him alive. They ended up removing Matthew's nose cartilage to the bone as well as the palate to prevent the spread.
According to the CDC the Chromobacterium violaceum is found regularly in nature, particularly in warm-water lakes throughout the Southeastern US. While the lake bacteria is plentiful, infection from contact is very rare and doctors still do not know what can cause the Chromobacterium violaceum to eat at human tissue.
The CDC says that the case of the lake bacteria eating Matthew McKinney alive is not cause for alarm and does not require a public health advisory to be issued. Closing Hope Mills Lake was also deemed an unnecessary step as it is believed that Matthew McKinney's infection is an isolated case.
While it will be a long struggle with reconstructive surgery and strong anti-biotic medications, Matthew McKinney is expected to recover from his battle with the vicious Chromobacterium violaceum infection. None of the other teens swimming with Matthew McKinney at the time he was exposed to the lake bacteria have demonstrated symptoms of infection.
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at 14:08 on June 26th, 2009
My thoughts and prayers go out to Mathew and his family. We wish you all the best.
at 19:23 on June 28th, 2009
I have heard of another case like this jake finkbonner and then i hoped for the poor boy now for second time seeing this happen i hope and pray he will live good luck
at 08:57 on June 29th, 2009
hi my name is megan. im a close friend of matthews and another person that cares deeply about matthew. i went with him to john griffin and look forward to seeing him hopefully at jack britt. hes told me all of the things he wants to do with his life and my heart goes out to him to achieve those goals. i wish him a quick recovery and his family luck. they are all in my prayers and have been since i first learned of this.
at 13:58 on June 25th, 2009
Use to be that every time I swam in Lake Erie, I would get sick, but not like this!
I refuse to swim in any fresh water now and haven't in over 40+ years.
I wish this child all the best.
at 16:28 on June 25th, 2009
Good Lord!
at 19:16 on June 25th, 2009
Get this boy a Naturopathy Doctor and a professional Aromatherapist! Essential oils are powerful, as is Comfrey root, etc. The essential oil of Oregano is one of the best bacterial killers around. Seek other professional's help for God's sake! I'm from Canada where we use these therapies regularly and they work!
at 19:34 on June 25th, 2009
This child needs to see a Dr. of Naturopathy pronto if he is to fully recover from this horiible infection. Must boost his immunity naturally as quickly as possible!!!
at 20:09 on June 25th, 2009
This story just keeps changing and now all the information is being given out wrong..Look into what you publish before you put it out on the news....
at 21:15 on June 25th, 2009
My prayers go out to Matthew and his family.
at 22:47 on June 25th, 2009
Why not use Colloidal Silver at 5000 ppm, a brand called INVIVE sells it, it acts as a catalyst and blocks the process(es) in which simple single celled organisms like bacteria use to replicate.
Colloidal Silver /was/ used by the medical profession for hundreds if not thousands of years, but because it is Silver it can't be patented, so the medical industry decided to remove it from its arsenal against bacteria, viruses and fungal infections. If you are worried about that scare story about the "Blue Man" he took too many doses of the wrong dosage of the wrong type of silver.
at 04:04 on June 27th, 2009
why nobody tries Zapper dr.Clark - I heard this invention can kill many different types of bacteria!!!!!
can anybody please can pass this info to the boy's parents...
at 07:24 on June 27th, 2009
Oh, for God's sake! Shut Up! Doctors know what they're doing. They have been curing people for many years and have a lot of experience. You just read something in paper and call yourself true Doctor. Don't pretend you know everything.
Praying to God won't help either. You want to help, send them money, unfortunately only money can do miracles in our times...
at 08:43 on June 27th, 2009
What a nightmarish situation! The poor kid.
at 18:15 on June 28th, 2009
I am Matthew McKinney's mother. You are to be commended for wanting information to be correct, and I fully agree. Matthew currently lives in North Carolina, not Georgia. He was treated first at Womac Hospital at Fort Bragg, NC not Cape Fear Valley Hospital. His name is Matthew, not Michael. If there is any other incorrect information, I will try to do my best to find it anywhere I can and fix it for the public to know the truth. Thank You!
at 18:32 on June 28th, 2009
This is Matthew's mother again. I just want to thank everyone who has prayed for him and our family. The support has been overwhelmingly gracious and has helped tremendously for us and for Matthew as he is getting better. His fever is gone. The bacteria is no longer in his blood. It did not attack any of his organs, brain, or spinal chord. The antibiotics Gentamicin and Imipenem worked to stop the bacteria. Matthew is looking at several reconstructive surgeries in his future, and because of all of the support people have given him, we have decided to start a trust fund this week for anyone who feels compelled to donate to Matthew for his surgeries. Matthew is a very bright young man with a huge heart and has kept his sense of humor throughout this whole situation. He's been an A student in middle school and is looking forward to high school next year. He is a Boy Scout working towards his Eagle Scout. He plays his Great-Uncle's violin at school, and his goal in life is to go to the Air Force Academy (since both his mother and father were/are active duty Air Force) and become a Crime Scene Investigator with a degree in Criminology. He's a very hard worker and really cares about other people, especially his family and extended family. We love him dearly and also pray that he can achieve all that he dreams.
at 09:52 on June 29th, 2009
Hey my name is Emily, I'm a close friend of Matthew's. I was like totally freaked out when I found out that his sickness is this big bad bacteria. O.o I really hope he gets better SOON.
ily Matt! ^.^
at 10:16 on June 29th, 2009
HI my name is Faith and I am a close friend of Matts we went to JGMS with each other and had a few classes together. I wish him and his family the best of luck and I want the to let them know they're in my prayers. I also wanted to know if he was open for visitors.
at 17:12 on June 30th, 2009
To the McKinney family:
If I'm not mistaken my Uncle David is related to your family and although changes in life have separated my Aunt from David I will always consider him family.
Anyway, my point, is that Matthew is and will continue to be in my prayers. Just keep the faith and remember Our father in heaven will never put upon us more than we can carry.
I would feel honored to donate to Matthew's trust fund... could you please post the information or email it to trf032303@yahoo.com
Stay strong,
Tina Inskip
at 17:56 on July 2nd, 2009
I'm not totally against natural cures. However this is not the time to light some candles and rub him with oil. If he's had parts of his face removed then clearly the infection has gone beyond a simple gash and he needs to stick with something a little more tried and true than oregano.
at 12:18 on July 4th, 2009
I am presuming that Matthew has been seen by an infectious disease specialist. That tissue samples have been taken and sent to the CDC which will eventually (it takes time to grow them in a dish) confirm the type of infection. In the meantime, physical confirmation (photo recognition by comparison) is probably used to determine the type of antibiotics required to knock this out of his system. I have big scars on my left leg from another type of flesh eating bacteria acquired in a lake. It took a week to determine what it was. Surgery - debridement, was required to cut the bacteria out. Antibiotic treatment was then changed from Levaquin to TMP/SMX (Septra), intravenous in the hospital (a total of two weeks in the hospital), then pills 4X daily for one year upon discharge from the hospital. ONE YEAR.Plus I had to have a visiting nurse for one month to change dressings and monitor the wounds. I am fortunate that there was an infectious disease specialist that recognized what it was. Timing is everything and I still have a left leg because of a wise Dr. My prayers are with Matthew.
at 08:12 on July 6th, 2009
It's amazing how many claim to be family (related) or want to be family when they see others get spotlighted on major news networks.
And all the instant cures.............isn't that amazing! It makes you wonder why we have doctors with all the amazing medical advise that is received from people we don't even know.
God's speed Matthew, you have been watched over by God and was given the best doctors you could have. You have a long road to travel, but you obviously have a wonderful family looking after you.
at 11:33 on July 18th, 2009
Dear Chelseann and Brian and Matthew and Kiona
I am so happy to learn that Matthew is on the road to recovery. I know it will be a long road and you all face some definite challenges.
I am very proud of all of you.
The courage and fortitude you have demonstrated in the face of this life threatening situation shows clearly your admirable strength.
I send you love
Mary Carol
at 14:22 on August 9th, 2009
hi, this story is from North Carolina, not Georgia. I used to take my kids to Hope Mills Lake all the time but now i dont allow them in the water. I may b paranoid but im nt taking any chances. I have a 14 yr old son as well but i cant even fathom the horror this child and his family r going thru. My prayers go out to them
~Dee- Parkton NC
at 09:26 on August 13th, 2009
Hello my name is Hikim and i am one of Matthews best friends. I would like to thank you all for helping out Matthew in all of your ways. Matt is doing better now and please keep up your praying because it's very thankfull.
love always
Hikim
at 06:23 on August 25th, 2009
RUMORS ALSO SAY THAT IT OCCURED AT FANTASY LAKES WATER PARK IN HOPE MILLS. IS THAT TRUE?