A 20-year-old Brazilian model, who was a finalist to represent her country at the Miss World contest, had her hands and feet amputated after contracting a severe urinary infection.
Mariana Bridi da Costa fell ill on Dec. 30, and was initially diagnosed with kidney stones, Agence-France Presse reported Thursday.
But, it turned out she had come down with the infection pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterium, which can often prove fatal.
The infection quickly spread, causing her to go back to the hospital for tests. That’s when doctors discovered septicemia had set into her limbs, cutting off circulation, the news agency reported.
As a result, doctors were forced to amputate.
Septicemia is the presence of bacteria in the blood. It’s a serious, life-threatening infection that rapidly gets worse. It can arise from infections throughout the body, including infections in the lungs, abdomen, and urinary tract, the National Institutes of Health said on its Web site.
Bridi da Costa was placed on an artificial respirator following the procedures, according to several media reports.
