A 31-year-old man died after ignoring advise to avoid swimming for at least two weeks after receiving a tattoo.
Specifically, the anonymous individual opted to take a swim in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, which is rich in saltwater, just days after inking.
Unfortunately, his wound from the tattoo of a religious cross on his right calf was still fresh and had been infected with flesh-eating bacteria.
Doctors diagnosed him with a dangerous bacterial illness caused by Vibrio vulnificus, which had torn portions of his skin.
Doctors kept him on life support for two weeks while he battled septic shock, a condition in which an infection causes the immune system to turn against the body’s own organs.
According to reports, the individual was vulnerable because his immune system was damaged by liver cirrhosis, a pre-existing health condition for which he had been diagnosed.
According to BMJ Case Reports, the man used to drink six 340ml (12 fl oz) bottles of beer every day.
Experts believe he was more likely to get such an infection due to liver problems.
According to the Daily Mail, patients with chronic liver illness have low neutrophil counts, which are crucial white blood cells that help fight infections.
Exposing open wounds to water, whether saltwater or pool water, increases the risk of acquiring skin infections.
