My night duty on 4/2/2024 begun on a high note when Musiimenta Prossy a 34 years old client was admitted on ward. Prossy was complaining about painful pus oozing out of her right side buttock, she explained that she was pierced by a barbed wire as she squatted for a short call near her house.
Musiimenta’s wound was very septic, without masks on; it was very hard for us stay near her for further assessment due to the smell from the wound. We were forced to shift her from the general female ward to one of the pediatric wards that we specifically made an isolation ward for her due to the uninhabitable smell from the wound.
Prossy could hardly stand, sit, nor sleep due to the immense pain she was in. She was always groaning and calling for help. We cleaned her wound, dressed it and gave her first treatment as we waited for Doctor to do further investigations and assessment of her wound.
Upon arrival, Doctor did assessment and Doctor informed us that Prossy had necrotizing fasciitis sepsis due to abscess. He ordered for tests like CBC, blood grouping, cross matching and HB. Unfortunately her HB was low, Doctor prescribed antibiotics and encouraged us to manage her HB as we prepare Prossy for theater to relieve her of the unbearable pain.
On 5/2/2024 Prossy’s was prepared for an operation. The theatre team shocked because they expected pus and possibly some rotten muscles however upon opening, the rotten muscles and pus were unbelievably too much (photos are heart breaking but can be shared on request).
We managed Prossy until she was fit for discharge. Before discharge, I asked her why she took long to seek professional treatment and she said that; “she used herbs, pain killers and salted warm water while at home until the situation seemed irreversible.” At the time of discharge, Prossy appreciated all medical staff and cleaners for supporting her despite the unbearable condition she was in.
Story written by Muhindo Oripah- Enrolled Nurse KIDA Hopsital.