A woman died from a rare infection three days after her hand was bitten by a dog, an inquest heard.
Stacey Alexander-Harriss, 42, thought her wound was recovering, but was admitted to hospital two days later after becoming unwell, and her condition deteriorated.
The children's author had been out walking her own two dogs in Ilford, East London, when she was bitten on the hand on June 15 last year.
She bandaged the bite and, at least superficially, the wound appeared to be healing.
Paramedics suspected sepsis and rushed her to King George Hospital in Ilford, My London reports.
Stacey, a children's author, arrived at the emergency department at 7.04pm on June 17, where it was noted she was “very unwell” with a metabolic acidosis – a condition where there is too much acid in the body’s fluids.
She was placed on IV fluid resuscitation shortly after her arrival and, within an hour, underwent a clinical examination that included venous blood gas, laboratory bloods being taken, IV fluids, oxygen being provided, painkillers administered and chest x-rays.
Her care was also escalated to an emergency department consultant.
The full blood count led to a diagnosis of neutropenic sepsis and she was put on IV Tazocin, an antibiotic administered via drip, at around 8.35pm.
She was then transferred to the intensive therapy unit of the hospital and was receiving one-to-one care.
However, Stacey suffered a cardiac arrest in the early hours of June 18 and, despite the efforts of doctors, could not be resuscitated.
A blood test after her death revealed the bacterial growth of Capncytophagia canimorsus, an organism commonly found in the mouth of dogs.
Following an inquest into her death at Walthamstow Coroner’s Court on April 28, Area Coroner Nadia Persaud gave a cause of death as “an overwhelming bacterial infection caused by a dog bite”.
The coroner has written a public warning in a Prevention of Future Deaths report to warn the public to “seek urgent medical attention” if a person from a relevant underlying illness becomes unwell from a dog bite.
The report details how attending doctors were “not familiar with this type of bacteria” and that earlier administration of Tazocin IV might have resulted in Stacey’s life being saved.
Stacey, originally born in North Carolina, took a picture of herself in ICU just hours before she suffered a cardiac arrest.
She also posted a picture of her bandaged hand a day after the incident.
Area Coroner Nadia Persaud wrote: "During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you.
"The evidence during the course of the Inquest gave rise to a concern as to a knowledge gap in relation to the organism Capncytophagia canimorsus.
"The attending doctors were not familiar with this form of bacteria living within the mouths of dogs and cats and how easy it is to infect people with this organism. A severe traumatic injury is not required for infection to develop.
"This organism can cause an overwhelming infection insusceptible individuals. The Inquest heard that conditions such as type II diabetes and hepatic steatosis render the individual to a higher risk of serious infection. The inquest heard that raising awareness of this organism and the underlying high risk medical conditions within the medical profession, may prevent future deaths.
"The Inquest also heard that there may be a need for greater public awareness in relation to the need to seek urgent medical attention if a person suffers from a relevant underlying illness and becomes generally unwell following a dog or cat bite."
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