Madonna’s family were left ‘preparing for the worst’ after the icon was struck down with a bacterial infection. The 64-year-old hitmaker was found unconscious in New York on Saturday and then rushed to intensive care where she was reportedly intubated overnight.
Guy Oseary, her manager, said she was suffering from a ‘serious bacterial infection’. Her epic 80-show world tour, set to begin on July 15, was postponed so she could recover. While Madonna’s health is improving and a ‘full recovery is expected’, he said the mother-of-six is still being treated by medics.
It is currently unclear exactly what infection or complications the Michigan-born singer is suffering from, but bacterial infections can affect various parts of the body, including the skin, lungs, and blood. Examples of bacterial infections include strep A, salmonella, and impetigo. Symptoms can include a fever, cough, shortness of breath, sweating and chills, as well as a headache, muscle pain, tiredness, and chest pain. Antibiotics are used to treat such infections. While most cases are mild, some untreated bacterial infections can lead to serious complications.
One of the most life-threatening complications is sepsis. It occurs when the immune system overreacts to an infection and starts attacking the body’s tissues and organs. Sepsis requires immediate medical treatment because patients can rapidly deteriorate. Without urgent care, it can lead to septic shock, organ failure, and eventually death. Patients may require treatment in intensive care, a machine to help them breathe, or surgery to remove areas of infection.
Around 250,000 Brits develop sepsis per year and 52,000 die, according to the Sepsis Trust. In the US, there are 1.7 million cases per year and 270,000 deaths, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Most patients make a full recovery from sepsis, but some are left with long-term issues.
Additionally, bacterial infections can trigger another complication called septicaemia, also known as blood poisoning. It happens when the body’s immune system is unable to fight off the infection, leading to large amounts of bacteria entering the bloodstream.
According to Page Six, Madonna, who had plans to commence her 84-date Celebration tour in Vancouver, Canada on July 15, was discovered on Saturday and subsequently taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where she was intubated overnight. Madonna’s eldest daughter, Lourdes Leon, 26, stood by her side during her hospitalization. Although O’Seary did not provide specific details about Madonna’s treatment or the circumstances of her hospitalization, he confirmed that she was admitted to the ICU on Saturday due to a bacterial infection.
“On Saturday, June 24, Madonna developed a serious bacterial infection which led to a several-day stay in the ICU,” he wrote on Wednesday afternoon. Madonna’s previous concert performance took place at London’s O2 Arena during her Rebel Heart tour in 2015, which was also the year she had a memorable fall during a performance at the BRIT Awards. Although Madonna completed 75 theatre shows during her Madame X tour, she had to cancel several shows due to recurring hip and knee injuries.
Our thoughts are with Madonna and her family. ❤️
