Flesh-eating bacteria victim Aimee Copeland's condition improves

Aimee Copeland, 24, is fighting for her life at JMS Burn Center in Augusta, her father Andy said on Facebook.

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(CBS/AP) AUGUSTA, Georgia - Aimee Copeland, the Georgia woman battling a flesh-eating disease, is slowly improving, and her father said Tuesday she should be out of intensive care soon.

Aimee Copeland, battling necrotizing fasciitis, now able to speak
Flesh-eating bacteria victim Aimee Copeland on amputations: "Let's do this"

Doctors Hospital of Augusta said Aimee Copeland's condition has changed from critical to serious. Serious condition indicates a patient is still acutely ill and has unstable vital signs.

The 24-year-old graduate student developed necrotizing fasciitis after cutting her leg on May 1 in a homemade zip line accident on a Georgia river. She contracted the Aeromonas hydrophila bacteria in her open wound, eventually causing her left leg, other foot and both hands to be amputated. 

Her father, Andy Copeland, said doctors believe his daughter should be out of intensive care and ready to move into the hospital's rehabilitation clinic in two or three weeks.

"She's going to have to learn to use prosthetic limbs," he said. "But the critical-care phase, I believe, has come to an end."

He said one doctor who had expected her to spend months in intensive care is "blown away by her rate of progress."

Andy Copeland said his daughter has been talking with her doctors about using meditation and other holistic techniques to manage her pain instead of drugs. He said it's a topic she had been researching for her master's thesis.

"She went through one of the dressing changes without any kind of pain medication at all the other day," he said. "It's incredible. She chose to meditate through it."

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Ga. student fights to survive flesh-eating bacterial infection

[BDBerzerker]

The use of powerful antibiotics is increasing drug resistant infections. I know it may sound simplistic but has anyone thought about using honey? Just ordinary local honey. It does work. This flesh-eating bacteria is probably too fast acting for maggot therapy, but something as simple as honey may work in future cases. I realize it's too late for the amputated limbs, but wouldn't it be embarassing for the doctors if it worked?

[xjugAB]

Pretty sure the limbs were dead... the bacteria was too aggressive. I cannot imagine these Doctors took the leg, foot and hands of a 24 yr old woman if they didn't have too or knew of ANY other response...

[xjugAB]

Pretty sure the limbs were dead... the bacteria was too aggressive. I cannot imagine these Doctors took the leg, foot and hands of a 24 yr old woman if they didn't have too or knew of ANY other response...

[xjugAB]

Pretty sure the limbs were dead... the bacteria was too aggressive. I cannot imagine these Doctors took the leg, foot and hands of a 24 yr old woman if they didn't have too or knew of ANY other response...

[xjugAB]

Pretty sure the limbs were dead... the bacteria was too aggressive. I cannot imagine these Doctors took the leg, foot and hands of a 24 yr old woman if they didn't have too or knew of ANY other response...

[angelofurnightmare]

I hope she recovers quickly and has the spirit to get her through everything ahead

[dale_arden]

I said this many times.
They need not amputate her parts. Subject the effected parts to high temperatures of 50 - 60 Celsius for 20 -30 minutes, daily 4-5 times, along with local anesthesia so as not to feel the heat.
The bacteria will die, use low temp steam, IR heaters along with antibiotics,
She will be cured in 3-4 days.
Similarly for dental pain, need not remove the teeth, use a small tip, electrically heated and apply it on the teeth to kill the germs.

[ugacrew]

Are you a Doctor or other research professional? What you have to say is extremely interesting and I would sincerely love to read more about it. There are thousands who could benefit from this. Can you say more here or tell where I along with others can read more about this process? Thanks

[TheTommyAmo]

Such an aggressive heat treatment may very well cause coagulative necrosis. While this may kill the invading bacteria, it also kills the host cells which will turn the normal flora into opportunistic bacteria feasting on the necrotic tissue. This state is basically one type of gangrene injuries and will assure amputation. The gradual fighting of invading bacteria without intentionally killing host cells (which is what doctors have done in this case) is a the correct approach with a much higher potential for a positive outcome.