Michael Dmetriuc’s mysterious infection receives fast treatment

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Michael and Nadine Dmetriuc are more than grateful for the attention they received from the medical staff at Brant Community Healthcare System when an unusual infection left them fearful of what was happening to Michael’s arm.

Michael was shopping for groceries when he heard a “cracking” sound in his left elbow as he lifted his basket of items. Though he thought it was odd, there was no pain, so Michael finished his shopping and returned home. That night, he experienced hot and cold flashes and by the following morning, his elbow had begun to swell and the area was warm to the touch. He used ice packs to try to reduce the swelling, but it was spreading towards his wrist.

“Eventually I couldn’t even touch my nose with my left hand because it was so swollen,” said Michael. “But the muscles were functioning fine and it never hurt. Ever.”

From left: Dr. Tom Szakacs, Grateful Patient Michael Dmetriuc and his wife Nadine with Emergency Department RN Amy Farrow and Dr. Jean-Marc Benoit.

Michael’s family doctor referred him to Dr. Steven Richie, an orthopedic surgeon at the Brantford General. It was determined at that time that Michael didn’t require surgery, but Dr. Richie did ask for a consultation with Dr. Tom Szakacs, an infectious disease specialist at the hospital.

Dr. Szakacs froze Michael’s elbow and made two incisions to take samples of the infected tissue. He then arranged for Michael to receive intravenous antibiotic treatment at a healthcare provider off-site, but because of Michael’s thin veins, it turned out the IV treatment had to be completed back in the Emergency Department of the Brantford General where smaller needles were available.

Emergency Department nurse Amy Farrow saw Michael right away to begin administering his antibiotics. She asked Michael if she could see his infected arm and when he showed her how the infection was progressing, she informed him that the ED doctor, Dr. Jean-Marc Benoit would be seeing him before he left.

“Dr. Benoit looked at it and was very concerned,” said Michael, who was told he would be admitted and given another course of intravenous antibiotics that night.

Michael’s wife, Nadine, was worried. She feared Michael may have contracted necrotizing fasciitis, otherwise known as flesh-eating disease, and may lose his arm. But she was relieved and comforted by the quick action taken by the medical staff once they saw Michael’s condition.

“It was a whole team of people involved in Michael’s care,” she said. “Everybody was so fast.”

“The staff were very professional and they listened to everything we had to say during our experience,” said Nadine.

Dr. Szakacs saw Michael the next morning and expressed surprise at the rate of growth of the infection. He used a portable ultrasound unit to scan Michael’s arm at the bedside, then arranged for Dr. Richie to see Michael again and determine the next steps for treatment.

Surgery was scheduled for that evening.

“I can’t believe how fast he went from the grocery store to the operating room,” said Nadine.

“I didn’t know what they were going to do during the surgery,” said Michael, adding, “At that point they still didn’t know what was causing the infection, so the only thing I was thinking was the worst case scenario and I would lose my arm.”

During surgery, Dr. Richie made four incisions in Michael’s arm so he could clean out the infection. The incisions were left open to facilitate drainage and Michael was admitted to the seventh floor to convalesce. He spent the next day in bed with his arm bandaged while antibiotics continued to flow through his IV line. Eventually, Dr. Richie removed the bandages and the packing in the incisions and Michael said he seemed pleased with what he saw.

“The swelling had gone down quite a bit,” Michael said.

Dr. Szakacs also checked on Michael’s progress.

“He was very impressed with the healing progress,” said Michael. “He said we could stop the IV and I could go home.”

At his follow-up appointment with Dr. Szakacs the following week, Michael said the doctor was very happy with how well Michael’s arm was healing and gave him the go-ahead to slowly begin to return to his daily life.

As a precaution, Nadine and the couple’s two children were also prescribed a course of antibiotics.

“I think that whatever he had, the issue was finding the right antibiotic,” said Nadine. “I’m just glad it’s over.”

As Michael, Nadine and their family knows first-hand, when a health crisis or emergency affects you or a loved one, Brant Community Healthcare System is here to provide exceptional, professional and compassionate care in your time of need.

Now is the time to make a difference, please consider making a gift today that is meaningful to you, and support a strong healthcare system for our community.

Your involvement, through a donation of any size, will allow the BCHS Foundation to purchase patient equipment not funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, provide essential resources to maintain the exceptional level of compassionate patient care, and invest in new and innovative technology.

To make a donation, visit the BCHS Foundation website at bchsysfoundation.org or call 519-751-5510.

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For more information on how you can make a donation or offer your support to the 12 Days of Giving campaign, please contact the BCHS Foundation at 519-751-5510 or by email at foundation@bchsys.org

NOW is the time to make a difference, please consider making a gift today that is meaningful to you, and support a strong healthcare system for our community.

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