Sarah Fallon diagnosed with 'flesh-eating' infection after birth at Royal Oldham Hospital

Sarah Fallon

New mum Sarah Fallon is calling for an investigation after she contracted a vicious flesh-eating infection after the birth of her baby at Royal Oldham Hospital.

Sarah, from Rochdale, has had to undergo a number of emergency operations as the infection, Necrotising Fasciitis, has rotted the flesh and muscle tissue on her leg, causing parts of it to turn black.

Though not contagious, the infection is contracted through open wounds and spreads extremely quickly if the tissue is not removed with emergency surgery.

Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust has confirmed that there are “a number of cases” of Necrotising Fasciitis each year, and that intensive care support is often needed.

Sarah’s cousin, Kelsey, said that the baby is doing fine but that mum is struggling to cope with the stress of losing parts of her leg. She said: “It started like a scab, about the size of a 2p coin and grew and grew and grew. In the end she had to have a three-hour operation to remove that part of the flesh, and even the muscle tissue under it. It was turning black and it was horrific.

“The thing is, they keep taking little bits of her leg out, and then another bit turns and they have to take that as well. It shouldn’t have happened in the first place.”

Kelsey decided to start fundraising to try and support her cousin. She added: “This isn’t the end. She will be in hospital for a little while as surgeries are completed and she will be in with plastic surgeons too.

“Due to these tragic circumstances, we have to be grateful she still with us and on the up. As a family we will be pulling together and putting on a number of charity events to help him out.”

Necrotising fasciitis is a serious bacterial skin infection that spreads quickly and kills the body's soft tissue (necrotising means 'causing the death of tissues'). Accurate diagnosis, prompt treatment with antibiotics through a vein, and surgery are important to stopping this infection that can become life-threatening in a very short amount of time.

Dr Katherine Ajdukiewicz, Infectious Diseases Consultant at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Necrotising fasciitis (sometimes known as 'flesh-eating disease') is an uncommon but serious infection of the skin and underlying tissues (such as muscle). It can be caused by a number of different bacterial infections and is not infectious. Patients become extremely unwell very quickly and treatment includes surgery to remove the infected areas, antibiotics and intensive care support. The Trust sees a number of cases each year.”

A spokesperson for The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: “The Trust was concerned to hear of Sarah’s experience. The Trust has commenced an investigation into Sarah’s care and will share the findings of this with Sarah and her family in due course.”

Sarah is currently being treated at North Manchester General Hospital.

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