Two Northern Ireland women are recovering from the rare so-called flesh-eating disease ‘necrotizing fasciitis’ after going into hospital for routine operations.

They are lucky to be alive as statistics show the mortality rate can be as high as 73% unless the condition is spotted in the early stages and immediate treatment is received.

One woman, who contracted the disease at Craigavon Area Hospital, had to undergo skin grafts at the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald.

The second patient underwent a day procedure at Daisy Hill hospital. She had to undergo further intensive treatment at Craigavon to eradicate the painful condition.

The Belfast Telegraph understands that the Portadown woman, who went into Craigavon for a minor operation on a vein in her leg, spent over a month at Dundonald and was finally discharged this week.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a very rare condition

The family is unwilling to comment as there are tests being carried out to try and determine whether the patient was “carrying” the bug or whether it was picked up during her stay in hospital.

“It could take some time to determine,” a family member said. “We don’t want to jump to any conclusions.”

A spokesperson at Craigavon said anyone could “carry” the bug, adding: “It manifests itself in a very few, rare cases, and most people who carry it never know.”

In the case of the Newry woman, no further surgery was necessary after she was treated in Craigavon and she, too, was discharged.

The Craigavon spokesperson said: “It will probably be impossible to ever know whether the patients carried the bugs or they were infected in hospital. These bugs are sometimes carried in the air, and these instances are extremely rare.”

The infection attacks under the skin, often as the result of surgery. It causes the tissue to become swollen, often within hours, and can cause a fever and extreme illness.

Mortality rates have been recorded as high as 73% and the condition has to be caught in the early stages if the patients are to survive.

‘Fleshing-eating bacteria’ is, in fact, a misnomer as the bacteria do not eat the tissue. They cause the destruction of the skin and muscles by releasing toxins which cause the damage.

A spokesperson from the Southern Health and Social Care Trust said: “Our duty to protect patient confidentiality means we cannot comment on the treatment and care of any individual.”

The Trust spokesperson advised: “Necrotizing fasciitis is a very rare condition.”