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How our hospitals unleashed a MRSA epidemic [Seattle]
Seattle Times ^ | 11/16/8 | Michael J. Berens and Ken Armstrong

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: antibiotics; infections; mrsa; superbugs
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To: FReepaholic
Its just not hospital staff. Its visitors that enter the rooms touch the patients,touch the beds then leave the rooms and touch everything else on the way out the door. Same with C-diff.
When I enter a room that's MRSA I have to gown and glove and leave everything but the blood I came in for in the room with the patient.

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?

21 posted on 11/17/2008 7:15:25 PM PST by linn37
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To: sunvalley

They swab the patients nose upon admittance for MRSA where I work.


22 posted on 11/17/2008 7:17:31 PM PST by linn37
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To: FReepaholic

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.


23 posted on 11/17/2008 7:18:10 PM PST by Kozak (USA 7/4/1776 to 1/20/2009 Requiescat In Pace)
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To: linn37

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.


24 posted on 11/17/2008 7:33:45 PM PST by sunvalley
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To: Clint Williams
Silver is effective against MRSA as it is anti-microbial, no microbe can possibly build up a resistance to it.

Simply make all the doorknobs and other things commonly touched, silver-plated and the ability to spread will go way down.

25 posted on 11/17/2008 7:35:06 PM PST by ikka (Brother, you asked for it!)
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To: sunvalley

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.


26 posted on 11/17/2008 7:38:25 PM PST by linn37
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To: Clint Williams

Nutribiotic Grapefruit Seed Extract.

Kills it.


27 posted on 11/17/2008 7:57:55 PM PST by aMorePerfectUnion ("I've got a bracelet too, Jim")
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To: Pride in the USA; Stillwaters

If you read the whole article, you’re probably going to have bad dreams tonight.


28 posted on 11/17/2008 8:02:01 PM PST by lonevoice (Ich bin ein plumber)
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To: Spunky
I'm so sorry for your loss of your mother.

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?

29 posted on 11/17/2008 8:03:48 PM PST by texgal (end no-fault divorce laws return DUE PROCESS & EQUAL PROTECTION to ALL citizens))
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To: cherry

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.


30 posted on 11/17/2008 8:09:43 PM PST by Gator113 ("Noli nothis permittere te terere.")
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To: texgal
Does anyone here know if the VA can be sued for giving her this infection?

Federal Tort Claims Act.

31 posted on 11/17/2008 8:14:51 PM PST by SeaHawkFan
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To: mockingbyrd
"It’s going to be even better with socialized medicine!"

You won't have to pay for the health care that will kill you. How comforting.

32 posted on 11/17/2008 8:16:03 PM PST by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: Gator113

Alask = Alaska

Well, I did say that my stroke was only 98% recovered. ;>)


33 posted on 11/17/2008 8:21:34 PM PST by Gator113 ("Noli nothis permittere te terere.")
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To: Clint Williams
In Olympia, lawmakers voted unanimously to eliminate surprise inspections

That'll work out well. I promise. Nothing can possibly go wrong.

34 posted on 11/17/2008 8:25:54 PM PST by CE2949BB (Fight.)
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To: Robwin

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.


35 posted on 11/17/2008 8:26:58 PM PST by Gator113 ("Noli nothis permittere te terere.")
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To: Gator113
I didn't even notice that Alask.
Does that make me 97%?

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

36 posted on 11/17/2008 8:49:02 PM PST by vox_freedom (G K Chesterton: "If there were no God, there would be no atheists.")
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To: Clint Williams

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.


37 posted on 11/17/2008 8:50:04 PM PST by hope (the socialist msm result is mind-numb O-bots)
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To: vox_freedom

;>)


38 posted on 11/17/2008 8:52:32 PM PST by Gator113 ("Noli nothis permittere te terere.")
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To: aMorePerfectUnion
Nutribiotic Grapefruit Seed Extract.

One of the must-haves in our home.

39 posted on 11/17/2008 9:17:37 PM PST by Mygirlsmom (Hope is gone. Change is coming.)
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To: KriegerGeist
and the angel broke the seal and unleashed palgues upon the earth...

If that's true, why are we living longer than our fathers, grandfathers, greatgrandfathers generations?

40 posted on 11/18/2008 12:50:13 AM PST by Balding_Eagle (If America falls, darkness will cover the face of the earth for a thousand years.)
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