A 21-year-old National Guard recruit has lost his leg as he fights for his life against a flesh-eating bacteria he contracted during basic training.
Dez Del Barba was six weeks into his stint at Fort Benning in Georgia when he began complaining of a sore throat and leg pain at the beginning of February.
An initial test for strep came back negative, but a 24-hour culture revealed he did have a strep infection, reported WRBL.
Several days passed before army staff took him to the hospital, giving him ibuproften throat lozenges instead.
By that time, physicians told Del Barba he had necrotizing fasciitis, a fast-moving infection that destroys tissue under the skin - and that it had spread through both of his legs.
Since then he's undergone 14 surgeries at three different hospitals - including one to amputate his left leg - and doctors are now working to save the right leg.
Dez Del Barba, 21, of Stockton, California, was in basic training at Fort Benning in Georgia when he began complaining of leg pain and throat pain on February 7. Pictured: Del Barba, right, after his leg was amputated
Two immediate strep tests came back negative so Del Barba was just given ibuprofen and throat lozenges. Meanwhile, a 24-hour throat culture was sent to a lab, which later came back positive. Pictured: Del Barba during basic training, left, and in California, right
Del Barba was attending Sonoma State University, when he took a leave of absence during his last semester to attend basic training, according to a GoFundMe page.
He was then planning to complete his degree and attend the Officer Candidate School of the Army.
Del Barba's parents, Mark and Kamini, told WRBL that when their son left his hometown of Stockton, Californi,a on January 7, he was healthy.
But just one month later, on February 7, Del Barba's throat felt sore, according to his medical records.
Two immediate strep tests came back negative so he was just given ibuprofen and throat lozenges. Meanwhile, a 24-hour throat culture was sent to a lab.
The next day, when Del Barba began complaining of leg pain, he was seen by a physical therapist.
'Dez told us the drill sergeant continuously deterred him from asking for medical treatment for his ongoing symptoms,' Mark told WRBL. 'He was told he could be recycled and have to repeat the course.'
Later that Friday, the 24-hour throat culture results came back positive for group A streptococcus. A handwritten note was put in Del Barba's medical records that read: 'Positive for culture. Call AM Monday.'
Del Barba wasn't told about the positive results and, when his condition worsened, he was finally taken to the hospital on February 11, where he was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis. Pictured, left and right: Del Barba in physical therapy
Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare bacterial infection that quickly kills surrounding tissue, and group A strep infections are believed to be the most common cause. Pictured: Del Barba in the hospital
On February 10, Del Barba was taken to the hospital after he complained of more leg pain and
