Health
Fatal bacterial infections surging in Japan with unknown cause, reports says
Japan is reporting a spike in potentially fatal bacterial infections.
Cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), which is caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria, have reached 977 in the country so far this year as of June 2, according to Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases.
That is almost triple the number of cases reported at this time last year.
AMID SURGING CRUISE SHIP ILLNESSES, EXPERTS SHARE WAYS TO STAY SAFE ON THE HIGH SEAS
The cause for the surge is not known.
It could be linked to weakened immunity after the COVID pandemic, according to Tokyo Women’s Medical University professor Ken Kikuchi.
Takeshita Street in Harajuku is one of the most popular streets in Tokyo. Japan is currently reporting a spike in potentially fatal bacterial infections. (iStock)
“We can boost immunity if we are constantly exposed to bacteria, but that mechanism was absent during the coronavirus pandemic,” Kikuchi told NKH World Japan.
“So, more people are now susceptible to infection, and that may be one reason for the sharp rise in cases.”
“It can lead to sepsis and death if not treated quickly with antibiotics and fluids.”
Thomas Moore, M.D., a clinical professor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, said he’s not convinced the pandemic is the culprit.
“I can’t conclusively say that that’s incorrect, but this is the kind of thing where it spreads more easily when people are crowded together, like they can be in Tokyo,” he said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) is caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria. (iStock)
“So it’s not so much an effect of weakened immunity as much as it is a very brisk immunity — a brisk immunologic reaction that results in the illness.”
TIGER MOSQUITOES BLAMED FOR SPREAD OF DENGUE FEVER: ‘MOST INVASIVE SPECIES’
Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, warned that STSS can overcome an immune system that isn’t functioning properly.
“It’s similar to toxic shock syndrome, but with strep instead of staph,” he told Fox News Digital.
What is STSS?
Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome is a rare but serious bacterial infection, as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
It occurs when the Group A Streptococcus bacteria travels into deep tissues and the bloodstream.
“Everybody’s familiar with strep throat, and that’s generally the same organism,” said Moore.
“The main difference between common, regular strep throat and this particular condition is a specific gene that produces a toxin that results in this severe outbreak,” an expert said. (iStock)
“The main difference between common, regular strep throat and this particular condition is a specific gene that produces a toxin that results in this severe outbreak.”
Although STSS usually does not spread from person to person, the less severe group A strep infection — which can lead to STSS if it spreads to the tissues or bloodstream — is very contagious.
AS CHOLERA CASES RISE WORLDWIDE, HEALTH OFFICIALS SOUND ‘CONCERNING’ ALARM ABOUT VACCINE SHORTAGES
Initial symptoms usually include fever and chills, muscle aches, and nausea and vomiting, per the CDC.
Within a day or two, blood pressure starts to drop, which can lead to more dangerous effects like elevated heart rate, rapid breathing, sepsis, tissue death and organ failure.
People with STSS require hospitalization and immediate medical care, including intravenous fluids and other treatments for shock and organ failure, the CDC said. (iStock)
STSS can be fatal, with about one in 10 patients dying from the infection.
Although there is no specific test for STSS, it is diagnosed based on the presence of group A strep, low blood pressure and issues with two or more organs (blood, kidney, liver, lung, skin or soft tissue).
Higher-risk groups include older adults over 65, people with open wounds, and those with diabetes or alcohol use disorder, according to the CDC.
People with STSS require hospitalization and immediate medical care, including intravenous fluids and other treatments for shock and organ failure, the agency stated on its website.
Frequent hand-washing is one of the most effective prevention tactics, doctors say. (iStock)
“It can lead to sepsis and death if not treated quickly with antibiotics and fluids,” Siegel warned.
In severe cases, he said, patients may require surgery to remove infected tissue or even limb amputation.
Prevention tips
Although there is no vaccine for Group A strep infections, the CDC recommends implementing prevention tips — chiefly limiting exposure to those who are infected.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
It is also important to properly clean and care for wounds and fungal infections.
“If it gets on your skin where you have a break of some kind, it can invade the lymphatic system and cause infection,” Moore warned.
It is important to properly clean and care for wounds and fungal infections to prevent infection, according to experts. (iStock)
The doctor typically sees this in people who have swelling of their legs due to obesity, diabetes or a condition such as athlete’s foot, he said.
“When streptococcal infection gets in through other parts of the body, like the legs or a surgical incision, that can be pretty serious,” he said.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health
Frequently washing hands, following proper coughing and sneezing etiquette, and thoroughly washing all dishes after use can help prevent spread, per the CDC.
Treatment with antibiotics also minimizes contagion.
Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.
Use escape to exit the menu.
Sign Up
Create a free account to access exclusive content, play games, solve puzzles, test your pop-culture knowledge and receive special offers.
Already have an account? Login
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The sudden death of Kyle Busch has drawn attention to a rare but devastating medical progression: when pneumonia escalates into fatal sepsis.
An ER doctor spoke with Fox News Digital about how sepsis can trigger a rapid health decline.
“Sepsis is actually not a specific disease or diagnosis, but rather the syndrome that occurs when the body has certain abnormal findings and a presumed infection,” said Dr. Kenneth J. Perry, a South Carolina-based emergency medicine physician.
HOW PNEUMONIA PROGRESSES TO SEPSIS: DOCTORS EXPLAIN AFTER KYLE BUSCH’S DEATH
The markers of sepsis include elevated white blood cell counts, a high or low temperature, and elevated heart and respiratory rates, according to Perry. Because of this, a patient with pneumonia is often already technically septic by definition.
In the wake of Kyle Busch’s sudden passing, there is a focus on the rapid decline from pneumonia to fatal sepsis. (Getty; iStock)
While many people assume a worsening infection means bacteria are multiplying uncontrollably, it often has more to do with the body’s internal environment.
“It is often not the bacteria itself that is causing the specific decline,” Perry said. “In most cases, it is a cascade of inflammatory processes that are set in motion by the infection.”
When this inflammation spirals out of control, the body moves from having a manageable infection into severe sepsis. This is when otherwise healthy people can rapidly deteriorate.
SURGE IN WALKING PNEUMONIA AFFECTS THESE HIGH-RISK GROUPS, SAYS DR. MARC SIEGEL
“The concerning thing that can happen with any individual … is that sepsis can then lead to low blood pressure, worsening vital signs and organ damage,” Perry said.
“As multiple organs fail, it becomes very difficult for the medical team to treat and can sometimes lead ultimately to death.”
“The medical evaluation provided to the Busch Family concluded that severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications,” the family shared in a statement. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
It is very unlikely to have pneumonia and not have any symptoms, according to Perry. Early signs can mimic a severe flu, including fevers, chills, a productive cough, and chest or back pain in cases where the lung is infected.
When sepsis begins to take hold, time becomes the most critical factor. “We have known for a number of years that early antibiotic therapy is beneficial in the treatment of sepsis,” Perry said.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
If you or a loved one are managing an infection at home, the doctor says the following red flags mean you should bypass the clinic and head straight to the emergency room.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- A racing heart rate or fever that continues to worsen even after starting treatment
- Severe chest pain associated with a productive cough
The slide into sepsis is, in most cases, a cascade of inflammatory processes that are set in motion by the infection, the doctor said. (iStock)
While cases like Busch’s are tragic, Perry stressed that this shouldn’t cause widespread panic. Most patients with pneumonia do very well with standard oral antibiotics.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The NASCAR star’s rapid decline underscores the importance of medical vigilance and “having a primary care physician with whom you have a good relationship,” according to the ER doctor.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“Monitoring symptoms while having easy access to primary care is a very beneficial and appropriate plan for most patients,” he added.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Popular glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) weight-loss drugs may help slow the spread of some cancers, according to new research to be presented at a major medical conference.
Research led by Cleveland Clinic found that the medications may reduce the spread of several obesity-related cancers, including lung, breast, colorectal and liver cancers.
The findings will be presented at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting next week in Chicago.
WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS NOW LINKED TO CANCER PROTECTION IN WOMEN, MAJOR NEW STUDY REVEALS
According to a press release, the real-world retrospective study included 12,112 patients with the following types of obesity-related cancers, ranging from stage 1 to stage 3.
Popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs may help slow the spread of some cancers, according to new research to be presented at a major medical conference. (iStock)
- Breast adenocarcinoma
- Prostate adenocarcinoma
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
- Colorectal adenocarcinoma
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer)
- Renal cell carcinoma
- Pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Half of the participants started a GLP-1 medication – semaglutide, tirzepatide, dulaglutide, liraglutide, lixisenatide or pramlintide – after their cancer diagnosis.
The other half began taking a DPP-4 inhibitor comparator “gliptins,” a different class of diabetes medications, the study noted.
WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS’ IMPACT ON CANCER RISK REVEALED IN NEW STUDY
Compared to the patients taking gliptins, the GLP-1 users were found to have significantly lower progression to stage 4 disease for four types of cancers.
The biggest risk reduction was for non-small cell lung cancer (50%), followed by breast cancer (43%), colorectal cancer (31%) and liver cancer (38%).
Compared to the patients taking gliptins, the GLP-1 users were found to have significantly lower progression to stage 4 disease for four types of cancers. (iStock)
“Our study found that use of GLP-1 drugs, compared to DPP-4 inhibitors and other antidiabetic drugs, was associated with a meaningful reduction in cancer progression across four solid tumor types,” said lead study author Mark David Orland, MD, of the Taussig Cancer Institute at Cleveland Clinic, in the release. “It provides early evidence that future studies are worth pursuing.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Three other types of cancer – prostate, pancreatic and kidney – also had lower rates of spread among those taking GLP-1s, but those differences were “not statistically significant,” the researchers noted.
“Our study found that use of GLP-1 drugs … was associated with a meaningful reduction in cancer progression across four solid tumor types.”
Tumors with higher levels of GLP-1 receptors — proteins that help cells respond to GLP-1 hormones and drugs — were also linked to better survival outcomes, according to the study findings.
Overall, patients whose tumors had more of these receptors were about one-third less likely to die during the study period.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
The incidence of adverse side effects was similar between GLP-1 and gliptin groups.
The findings suggest that GLP-1 pathways may directly influence how some cancers grow or spread, though researchers say more studies are needed to understand the mechanism behind this effect.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, had some limitations, according to the researchers. As it was retrospective and observational in design – as opposed to a randomized clinical trial – it couldn’t prove that GLP-1 drugs directly prevent cancer progression.
The findings suggest that GLP-1 pathways may directly influence how some cancers grow or spread, though researchers say more studies are needed to understand the mechanism behind this effect. (iStock)
Other factors, such as participants’ health conditions, weight loss and metabolic improvements, may have influenced the results, researchers noted.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
For some specific cancer types, there may not have been enough patients represented to detect statistically significant differences.
Further randomized clinical trials are needed to evaluate these preliminary findings and to determine the specific ways in which GLP-1s control cancer progression.
-
Maine5 minutes agoRachel Carson Center for People and Nature opens in Kennebunk
-
Maryland11 minutes ago
Maryland Fishing Report
-
Michigan17 minutes agoMuskegons next big thing How Recarder Kitchen became Michigans cornerstone in 2027
-
Massachusetts23 minutes ago‘I just don’t feel it here in New England right now’: Immigrants say World Cup excitement is lacking – The Boston Globe
-
Minnesota29 minutes agoLatest Minnesota summer outlook inconclusive on heat, more certain of dry streak
-
Mississippi35 minutes agoMississippi woman dies after snorkeling accident in Florida
-
Missouri41 minutes agoMissouri man arrested in Topeka following alleged drug possession
-
Montana47 minutes agoMore Republican leaders say state party is ‘purging.’ GOP says it’s ‘vetting.’ • Daily Montanan
