Quote:
Originally Posted by aZooZa  MRSA is a far more serious problem Doc at least in the UK. It killed my father so I'm particularly 'laissez faire' about swine flu. |
You are so correct. And I am so sorry to hear about your father.
Any hospital stay exposes you to MRSA. That patients will catch it is almost a given. Any wound, surgery, or exposed injuries are so prone to getting it.
It is especially rampant in nursing homes and such.
The big bug we are fighting now in VRE, Vancomycin resistant. This is what is typically used to fight MRSA.
See how smart viruses and germs are? The evolve and mutate quicker than we can come up with new defenses.
Just within a few days, I related how 3 boyscouts tested positive from a Boy Scout camp here in NC (they were from Georgia and Florida) and now this issue with a local hospital.
I know the director of that department who would have permitted a person to go from one hospital of treating adults to another hospital (all with in the same system thanks to mergers and buyouts) of a such a controlled environment of a NICU (neonatal intensive care unit).
And how many people at the other hospital did she expose? Other patients, co-workers and staff? I have not heard any news from there yet.
This is definitely the time of year that I would wear a mask around anyone coming in with respiratory or flu-like symptoms. The best thing you can do? Put a mask on the patient! And insist they wear that mask until the test results come back.
Seriously, I just hope and pray that this all comes out well.
and,
just saw this.
U.S. swine flu cases top 21,000 as deaths rise
CDC: Most illnesses occuring in Northeast as cool spring prolongs activity
This is the middle of June, going into July. This is not the typical flu season. This is
hit the beach, the clubs, etc. time of year. That is what makes this whole episode particularly of concern to the health community. There are a great deal more to have to deal with this time of year than to diverting resources to this problem.
I just pays (at least for me) to know this is still an issue and a concern. Especially here in North Carolina. Confirmed cases are jumping. My wife and I both work in Hospitals. One hospital I was at required me to not only cover the ER but also the ICU's and go to high risk deliveries. I am so glad I am not in that environment at present.