Madonna has been released from a hospital intensive care unit after several days and is now recovering from a “serious bacterial infection”, according to her manager Guy Oseary.
The iconic singer has also postponed her world tour, called “Celebration”, amid the health scare, which highlights bacterial infections.
Madonna speaks onstage during the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 5, 2023 in Los Angeles.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Although it is not clear what type of bacterial infection sent Madonna to the ICU, there are different types of bacterial infections that could require medical attention.
ABC News Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jen Ashton said bacterial infections can be caused by a variety of sources.
“We can get infections caused by parasites, fungi, viruses and bacteria,” Ashton explained on “Good Morning America” Thursday.
Types of bacterial infections
Bacterial infections vary and can range from food poisoning and pneumonia to a urinary tract infection or UTI.
Some complications of bacterial infections, such as bacterial meningitis or sepsis, can be life-threatening medical emergencies. For bacterial meningitis, you may experience symptoms such as a sudden fever, stiff neck, or nausea, while for sepsis, where the infection spreads through the blood, symptoms may include a fast heart rate, sudden fever, or confusion
If a bacterial infection requires a stay in the ICU, recovery depends on multiple factors.
“When you’re talking about somebody who’s been in an intensive care unit [where] have been intubated with a breathing tube down their throat, their recovery depends on a number of factors: their initial medical condition before they became ill, how long they were in the unit and intubated, whether other organs such as the lungs, the brain, etc. the heart or kidneys were affected,” Ashton said.
“So it’s very, very variable. And that recovery period can go from days to weeks to months in some cases,” Ashton explained.
Reduce the risk of bacterial infection
Ashton said you can take preventative measures to reduce your risk of getting a bacterial infection, adding that you should also stay home if you feel sick.
To prevent foodborne infections, Ashton recommended making sure to prepare and store food properly and clean commonly used surfaces that are subject to frequent contact.
