Germ Outbreak Reported at L.A. Hospital (Closed neonatal and pediatrics ICUs)

Breitbart ^ | Dec 16 1:32 AM US/Eastern

[Esther Ruth]

Germ Outbreak Reported at L.A. Hospital Dec 16 1:32 AM US/Eastern

A hospital has closed its neonatal and pediatrics intensive care units to new admissions after a potentially fatal bacterium sickened seven children, including an infant who may have died from the infection, officials said Friday. White Memorial Medical Center shut down the neonatal unit on Dec. 4 following an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, hospital officials said.

The germ is believed to have infected five babies in the unit since it was detected on Nov. 30, said Dr. Laurene Mascola, director of the county's acute communicable disease control unit. One of the infants died, likely because of the pathogen, she said.

On Friday, the hospital shuttered the pediatrics intensive care ward after discovering the bacterium had infected an infant and a toddler there, Dr. Rosalio Lopez, the hospital's chief medical officer, said in a statement.

Officials say they've identified the source of the outbreak _ a medical instrument called a laryngoscope used to inspect an infant's larynx _ and don't believe there is a danger to other babies.

Though common, the germ is particularly virulent in those with weak immune systems such as newborns who are premature or critically ill.

[blam]

"It's a shame. My sister went to the hospital for a routine procedure to remove kidney stones. She caught a staff infection called CDIFF, not sure of the acronym spelling, from the hospital and died."

Hospitals Fail To Report Spread Of New Superbug 'More Dangerous Than MRSA'

"The shambolic state of infection control on wards is exposed in a survey by the Patients' Association. It found only about a quarter of trusts are gathering data on Clostridium difficile (C. diff), the bacterium that experts say poses more of a risk to public health than MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus)."

[raybbr]

ping

[whershey]

It has nothing to with sterilization. If it's cleaned properly it serves the same purpose. The problem in LA had to have been they didn't clean it properly.

[Lijahsbubbe]

They're used to force back the tongue so a breathing tube can be inserted

With all due respect, that's about as invasive as you can get.

[whershey]

It's the tongue so as soon as the blade touches it, the blade is contaminated. The tube itself is sterile although it's going to get slightly contaminated trying to place it.

The point is that the blade was either not cleaned or not cleaned properly. Hopefully they'll be able to trace who didn't do their job and take proper action against them.

[duckman]

Thanks for the info. The hospital is Valley Hospital in Ridgewood NJ, Bergen County). It is supposed to be a very good hospital.

[neverdem]