Woman's eyesight saved by cutting-edge test after mystery infection
Summary
A 29-year-old doctor named Ellie Irwin, who had a mystery infection affecting her eyesight for five years, successfully had her condition diagnosed and treated with a test named metagenomics. After extensive treatment failed to improve her situation, the metagenomics test identified a rare bacterial infection, which was then treated with antibiotics.Key Facts
- Ellie Irwin, a 29-year-old doctor from Bristol, had a mysterious infection that caused inflammation in her right eye for five years.
- Traditional treatments failed to cure Ellie's condition and she considered having her eye removed.
- Ellie's condition was finally diagnosed with a test called metagenomics, which is not usually available to patients and is typically used when standard diagnostic tools fail.
- The metagenomics test uses genomic sequencing technology to identify all bacteria, fungi, or parasites present in a sample by comparing them to a database of millions of pathogens.
- The test revealed Ellie had a rare bacterial infection called leptospirosis found in South America, which was cured with antibiotics.
- Metagenomics labs located at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) are the only ones officially recognized in the UK to carry out these diagnostic tests.
- Ellie's eye condition was so severe that it led her to develop a cataract, that had to be surgically removed.
- Despite treatment for years, Ellie's infection couldn't be identified until she underwent metagenomics.
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