Does that make me 97%?
Posted on 11/17/2008 6:34:06 PM PST by Clint Williams
MRSA, a drug-resistant germ, lurks in Washington hospitals, carried by patients and staff and fueled by inconsistent infection control. This stubborn germ is spreading here at an alarming rate, but no one has tracked these cases -- until now.Year after year, the number of victims climbed. But even as casualties mounted -- as the germ grew stronger and spread inside hospitals-- the toll remained hidden from the public, and hospitals ignored simple steps to control the threat.
Over the past decade, the number of Washington hospital patients infected with a frightening, antibiotic-resistant germ called MRSA has skyrocketed from 141 a year to ...
...
No surprise inspections
In the past, the state health department conducted surprise inspections to ensure that hospitals adhered to health and safety codes, from patient care to building maintenance.
But in 2002, the Washington State Hospital Association issued a 28-page report: "How Regulations are Overwhelming Washington Hospitals." In it, hospital administrators claimed surprise inspections disrupted patient care.
In Olympia, lawmakers voted unanimously to eliminate surprise inspections starting in July 2004. Today, the Department of Health must provide four weeks' notice -- even the exact hour of arrival. ...
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
Our infectious disease team is working very hard to keep infections down. If they aren’t allowed to warn visitors about proper hygiene because they are afraid to violate patient confidentiality then how can you stop it from spreading?
They swab the patients nose upon admittance for MRSA where I work.
We need to go back to basic, preantibiotic, Lister first principles. All surfaces should be tile, or metal or plastic, so they can REALLY be cleaned. No drapes, carpeting, cloth chairs etc etc etc ( a lot of this crap is patient driven, they like the “hotel” look, not a “hospital” look). Many hospitals have cut cleaning personnel to the bone expecting the nursing staff to do it. Thats got to stop.
They swab all the patients? That doesn’t even seem reasonable. How long is the patient in the hospital before results are in? Plus, I’m sure nearly all healthcare workers have colonized MRSA in their sinuses.
Simply make all the doorknobs and other things commonly touched, silver-plated and the ability to spread will go way down.
I’d have to ask how long it takes for the results but its a fairly simple procedure. They take a sterile swab,run it around the inside of your nose and then put it in a tube and send it down to the lab.
Nutribiotic Grapefruit Seed Extract.
Kills it.
If you read the whole article, you’re probably going to have bad dreams tonight.
My sister contracted MRSA at the VA hospital in Houston. She went in for elective surgery to remove a bunion on her foot. The VA knew thay had it in the operating room and still allowed elective surgeries. Her podiatrist said 4 of his patients contracted MRSA the week she had surgery. 2 lost their lives to it and 2 (including my sister) have had multiple amputations. My sister lost her leg and part of another foor. She will probably lose her life to this infection.
We know it came from the hospital because the CDC told us it was the same strain they found in the hospital's operating room air conditioning. They sent her a bill the other day for over $350,000 for the amputation of her leg and foot.
Does anyone here know if the VA can be sued for giving her this infection?
I had heart surgery on May 4, 2007, in a Seattle hospital. They went in to remove the sack from around my heart, as well as complete a bypass, I needed 3, but my veins were toast, so I only got one. I was to be there for as much as 10 days.
I had a stroke durig surgery, contracted MRSA and spent 2 painful months fighting for my life in that hospital.
Strange as it may sound, I have very fond memories of that place and the hundreds of dedicated medical folks that took care of me. I had two— that’s ‘only two’ problems with hospital staff and both of those issues were taken care of (one nurse was transfered and an attendant was fired)—my bride is not one to upset... ;>)
After the first surgery I had a nice zipper like wound on my chest, but by the time I left, there was a ditch in my chest. The MRSA resulted in a total of 4 surgeries to my chest.
I then had home nurses for the next 3 months. I am now about 98% recovered from the stroke.
Today, I am alive,healed, happy and well. I recently turned 60 and celebrated our 36th anniversary with my beautiful bride.... we spent 2 fantastic weeks on the island of Kauai-— an absolute paradise. Next year I am going to Alask to kill fish.
I now have a 5 month old German Shepherd dog to keep me busy and I am having a ball.
So here is my take on all of this...the medical comunity screws up from time to time, but thank God they are out there. Oh, thank God for bulletproof health insurance too.... That 2 months cost a wee bit over a million bucks.
Thank you to all of you med folks, but do us all a big favor, wash your damn hands. ;>)
One more thing.... my bride, two grown children, 6 grandchildren, my dog and my fishing buddy thank you.
Federal Tort Claims Act.
You won't have to pay for the health care that will kill you. How comforting.
Alask = Alaska
Well, I did say that my stroke was only 98% recovered. ;>)
That'll work out well. I promise. Nothing can possibly go wrong.
Well, I am glad my bride left that out, when she read from the bible for me while I was in the hospital with MRSA.
Seriously, my son is 17 and has been hospitilized twice since the age of nine for this at 25k each complication..I can only tell ya that the alternative combat is more effective than what hospitalization will accomplish...There are many alternatives...Does’nt take a lot of research.
;>)
One of the must-haves in our home.
If that's true, why are we living longer than our fathers, grandfathers, greatgrandfathers generations?
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