Man Contracts Flesh-Eating Bacteria After Swimming With Pigs

What was meant to be a celebratory New Year’s getaway to the Bahamas turned into a fight for survival for 62-year-old Brian Roush. 

A minor scrape on his ankle, sustained from a simple trip on a sidewalk, became the entry point for a rare and aggressive infection that nearly cost him his life.

Despite the injury, the Spring Hill resident continued his vacation, participating in popular tourist activities like water slides and swimming with the islands' famous pigs. 

However, the situation turned critical on January 3, 2026, during his return trip to Fort Lauderdale. 

Roush became violently ill and was rushed to an emergency room, where his ankle began erupting in blisters.

A Grueling Medical Battle

Doctors quickly diagnosed Roush with necrotizing fasciitis, a fast-moving "flesh-eating" bacteria that triggers severe septic shock. 

As his lungs, liver, and kidneys began to fail, he was placed on life support in a medically induced coma. 

Surgeons were forced to act aggressively, removing massive sections of infected tissue from his ankle to his mid-calf, stripping the area down to the bone to stop the rot.

At the height of the crisis, medical staff gave Roush a less than 10% chance of survival. Against the odds, his body began to respond to intensive antibiotic treatment. 

By early February, his liver and lung function had improved enough for surgeons to perform a "muscle flap" surgery, using his entire right latissimus dorsi (back muscle) and a skin graft from his thigh to begin rebuilding his leg.

The Road to Recovery

As of February 10, 2026, Roush is preparing for a significant milestone: a transfer from the hospital in Fort Lauderdale to a long-term rehabilitation facility closer to his home in Spring Hill. While he has cleared the primary infection, the toll on his body remains severe.

• Kidney Failure: Both of Roush's kidneys remain in failure, requiring daily dialysis treatments.
• Physical Weakness: He is currently bed-bound due to severe ICU myopathy, a form of extreme muscle weakness caused by prolonged critical illness.
• Rehabilitation: Experts estimate he will need three to six months of intensive physical therapy to relearn how to walk.

Expert Warnings for Travelers

While the specific source of the bacteria in Roush's case hasn't been clinically proven, medical experts from the University of South Florida warn that pathogens like Vibrio vulnificus thrive in warm, brackish waters, especially temperatures above 70°F.

The primary takeaway for travelers is clear: any open wound, no matter how small, should be kept out of natural bodies of water. 

For high-risk groups, including older adults or those with underlying health conditions, a "minor" scrape can escalate into a life-threatening emergency within a matter of hours.