Another Deadly Bacteria Claims Hands and Feet

The Gwinnett Daily Post reported Saturday that Hannah Rinehart, a patient care technician at DeKalb Medical-Hillandale, fell victim to a bacterial infection that claimed both her hands and lower legs.  

Rinehart developed aches and pains, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post, but once her fever broke the couple put their worries aside.  

When Hannah, a cancer survivor, went to see her oncologist for an appointment, her husband Mark had to "carry her in." The couple lives in Decatur. 

She has been comatose for weeks.  

Mark has set up house in the ICU at Northside and rarely leaves her side. 

"Just played song we danced to at our wedding for my wife (in ICU for 20 days)," he tweeted on July 20.  "I asked if she knew I was crazy about her. She nodded yes." 

At 5 p.m. Saturday, Mark posted the following report on Hannah's Facebook page:

"Just recently spoke with orthopedic surgeon (foot doctor). He took the wrappings off of Hannah's legs yesterday, and will look at them tomorrow, but wants to leave them covered today.

"From his perspective, everything concerning the legs looks fine. He did, however, mention that Hannah's fever and elevated white blood cell count was not typical for someone three days after coming out of surgery." 

Flesh-eating viruses and bacteria are extremely rare, so it's shocking to see two people linked to South Gwinnett with similar experiences.  Aimee Copeland had multiple limbs removed after falling from a zip line into water and gashing her leg.

Hannah's infection was not caused by the same bacteria.  In fact, hers most likely came from the saliva of the family dog. While the infection doesn't "eat" flesh, about 30 percent of people who develop it die.

"It is unbelievable that something so rare can hit a community twice in one summer," said Mayor Kelly Kautz in an email to Snellville Patch.  "My thoughts and prayers go out to this family."

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