Monday, September 20, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS KILL 270 PEOPLE A DAY :: New York Injury Talk Blog
HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS KILL 270 PEOPLE A DAY :: New York Injury Talk BlogPosted On: January 2, 2008 by New York Personal Injury Attorney
HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS KILL 270 PEOPLE A DAY
According to a recent article, published in the New York Times, and in response to widely held public concerns about preventable and deadly hospital-acquired infections, The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, began publishing statistics on infections and deaths at its 11 hospitals on September 7th of this year. The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, the nation’s largest public health system, treats 1.3 million patients a year according to the Corporation’s website.
The Times reported that the federal Centers for Disease Control estimated that in any given year 1.7 million patients will get a hospital-acquired infection during their hospital stay. Out of those 1.7 million, 99,000 people, or about 270 per day, will die.
A New York medical malpractice law, requiring hospitals to report specific infections to the State Health Department will result in the State Department issuing hospital report cards in 2009. While mandated infection reporting is only required in a few states. New Jersey’s legislature has passed a bill requiring hospitals to report infections, and that bill is now before the Governor. USA Today reported, that many hospitals have ‘balked’ at requests to provide statistics on hospital-acquired infections.
Simple, and easily implemented steps, like physician and staff members washing their hands between patients, would lessen the opportunity for a hospital acquired infection. But, according to Clean Your Hands’ website, a study reported in Emerging Infectious Diseases in April of this year, compliance with hand-washing is poor.
About.com had several suggestions on how patients can empower themselves when hospitalized. As a patient, you can:
• Insist that anyone who touches you washes and sanitizes their hands. That includes medical personnel, dinner tray delivery people, visitors, even family members. And, according to about.com, just wearing gloves isn't good enough. Gloves may protect the wearer, but not the patient because the infection-causing pathogen may be present on the outside of the gloves.
• Insist that anything you touch is clean. That includes the telephone; the TV remote; the doctor’s stethoscope; bandages and dressing; and, catheters
HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS KILL 270 PEOPLE A DAY
According to a recent article, published in the New York Times, and in response to widely held public concerns about preventable and deadly hospital-acquired infections, The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, began publishing statistics on infections and deaths at its 11 hospitals on September 7th of this year. The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, the nation’s largest public health system, treats 1.3 million patients a year according to the Corporation’s website.
The Times reported that the federal Centers for Disease Control estimated that in any given year 1.7 million patients will get a hospital-acquired infection during their hospital stay. Out of those 1.7 million, 99,000 people, or about 270 per day, will die.
A New York medical malpractice law, requiring hospitals to report specific infections to the State Health Department will result in the State Department issuing hospital report cards in 2009. While mandated infection reporting is only required in a few states. New Jersey’s legislature has passed a bill requiring hospitals to report infections, and that bill is now before the Governor. USA Today reported, that many hospitals have ‘balked’ at requests to provide statistics on hospital-acquired infections.
Simple, and easily implemented steps, like physician and staff members washing their hands between patients, would lessen the opportunity for a hospital acquired infection. But, according to Clean Your Hands’ website, a study reported in Emerging Infectious Diseases in April of this year, compliance with hand-washing is poor.
About.com had several suggestions on how patients can empower themselves when hospitalized. As a patient, you can:
• Insist that anyone who touches you washes and sanitizes their hands. That includes medical personnel, dinner tray delivery people, visitors, even family members. And, according to about.com, just wearing gloves isn't good enough. Gloves may protect the wearer, but not the patient because the infection-causing pathogen may be present on the outside of the gloves.
• Insist that anything you touch is clean. That includes the telephone; the TV remote; the doctor’s stethoscope; bandages and dressing; and, catheters
Once In A Lifetime Opportunity- Happy Mother's Day!
Just as I try to keep moving forward in my life. Getting settled in a new state, job searching and finding my way in life. Out of the blue, I get an email from the Consumer's Union organization asking if I am interested in doing an another interview? Sure, I answered.
Just another day, checking email and keeping up with the world. Except this day would be an "Opportunity of a lifetime". The CBS Evening news is interested in telling my experience of my Mother's Hospital Acquired Infection of Acinetobacter Baumii that killed her in 17 days.
Things move very quickly, emails & booking plane tickets, hotel and directions to meet.
I scramble to go through all my documentation. The wound is still not healed, but I have to open it again. Going through pictures, death records and feelings of being lost and inside a tornado of not knowing where I might land in a whirlwind.
Through all this heartache and pain I am going to be telling the world of my experience of tragedy. I have such respect for the hard work that my Mother did her entire life. She touched so many lives. If I can share my experience and help another from going down this path than I feel I can pay it forward.
So I am internally a mess, but so excited I did not have time to make the phone calls before I left that now I am standing outside the CBS building going through a mental list of people I want to call and thank for supporting me. As I look at my husband, I am starting to realize this is a BIG Deal, and I am starting to panic. He calms me, knowing how important this is to me and all of the hard work I have done and how happy & honored my Mother would be to know I am trying to save lives.
As we stand in the building in NYC we are star struck. Security is tight everywhere. Police are at every block at all the critical blocks due to the failed bombing attempt. It is comforting to see the police in the volume of people walking the streets. Everyone is a hurry to get somewhere.
As we enter the 60 minutes floor we pass the Steve Croft. I take it all in, but I really wanted to snap a picture he acknowledges us we wait outside of the studio while they get everything ready on the set. As we sit and I try to calm myself. We laugh at all the things my mom would be saying. We share some stories of her sense of humor and some of her accomplishments and it helps break the ice and helps me relax.
The time comes, we meet Katie Couric and we are on-set. Taking a huge deep breath, we sit they check the lighting, hair & make-up and were off discussing my tragic chain of events that leads to the death of my mom. I try to maintain my objectivity and give the facts. At times my mind wonders away, Oh my GOD, I am sitting across from K a t i e C o u r i c- pinch me....discussing Acinetobacter.
We conclude the interview and we get the opportunity to meet with the next interview Dr. Brad Spellberg an infectious diseases specialist and author of "Rising Plague" a book about antibiotic resistance. We get to sit with the Dr. and pick his brain asking questions and was very enlightened. After Dr. Spellberg's interview they are walking across the street to Rosevelt Hospital to show the public the practical applications to quality care. The best part, how many things a Dr. touches in an examination & hand washing. I am so excited to see it all put together.
We leave for lunch and then meet up in Central Park for more video.
So Mark and I sit for lunch, I am a crying mess. Happy and so thankful and my heart is filled with gratitude. I have a handfull of people to call and thank for all the support and help with information along the way. I am so touched. My husband has been my rock. I cannot wait to call my kids and tell them. I am mentally and physically drained and I am looking forward to going home. I am sensory overload. The noise, the people and traffic have me realling.
The cab ride to the airport at 5pm has left me ready to drink....Seriously, they have a license to drive 70 to a dead stop without blinking. The honking is funny, there are signs everywhere, No Honking. LOL, what a ride its been. Please just deliver us safely to the airport.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Make Hospital Infection Rates Public - It's a Dirty Little Secret
Saving nearly 100,000 American lives and up to $45 billion each year can be simple if hospitals take the steps needed to prevent the spread of deadly infections among patients. Congress can give hospitals the needed push by requiring them to make their infections rates public.
This reporting has been tested in many states and it works! In Pennsylvania, the infection rate dropped by 8% statewide over the past two years of public reporting. Now its time to extend these safety incentives to every hospital in every community.
Send an email below to your Congressional lawmakers and President Obama to require reporting of infections happening at all US hospitals. Just fill out the form below and our system will automatically send your letter to your correct lawmakers based on your address!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
I moved to North Carolina to live my Mothers Dreams....
We recently moved to North Carolina by a leap of FAITH and to live the dreams that my mom & sister never had the opportunity to do.
We landed in Raleigh, NC and are adjusting to our downsizing. We have found jobs and continue to get familiar with the city and surroundings. WE love the weather and it is pretty easy to get around, I work close to home so I need to get and explore so more.
We landed in Raleigh, NC and are adjusting to our downsizing. We have found jobs and continue to get familiar with the city and surroundings. WE love the weather and it is pretty easy to get around, I work close to home so I need to get and explore so more.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Riverside hospital - Bacterial Infections
This sounds all to familiar - I have been down this road and my radar went off immediately
when I heard this story. Soon it is my goal to make these hospitals report to the public so people can make informed decesions as to where they want treatment or care based on the report card.
when I heard this story. Soon it is my goal to make these hospitals report to the public so people can make informed decesions as to where they want treatment or care based on the report card.
Woman gives birth, later dies from bacterial meningitis -
Woman Gives Birth, Later Dies From Bacterial Meningitis
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 12:30 PM
Updated: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 5:21 PM
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BELLFONTAINE, Ohio — Hospital administrators said Tuesday that they were conducting an investigation after two women contracted bacterial meningitis within 24 hours of giving birth.
The women arrived at Mary Rutan Hospital Thursday evening and both delivered healthy babies. By the next morning, the women started to become ill, 10TV's Tanisha Mallett reported.
"Sometime around mid-morning there were complications," said Mandy Goble, president and chief executive officer of Mary Rutan Hospital. "Headaches and a little bit of nausea developed, which is very common with spinal anesthesia."
Later in the day, the women were moved to Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus. Shortly before midnight, one of the women, Susan Simpson, 30, died.
Goble said her hospital immediately launched an investigation to determine what caused the infection.
"They came in about an hour apart; they were in separate rooms (and) as far as we know they did not know each other previous to the delivery," Goble said. "The only commonality that we have been able to determine is they each shared a spinal anesthesia."
The other woman, whose name was not released, remained at the hospital on Tuesday. Her family and friends told 10TV News that she was in the hospital's intensive care unit, Mallett reported.
The women's babies were in good condition at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
The Ohio Department of Health told 10TV News that the Logan County Health Department was also involved in the investigation.
Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for additional information.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 12:30 PM
Updated: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 5:21 PM
Print Story
E-mail Story
BELLFONTAINE, Ohio — Hospital administrators said Tuesday that they were conducting an investigation after two women contracted bacterial meningitis within 24 hours of giving birth.
The women arrived at Mary Rutan Hospital Thursday evening and both delivered healthy babies. By the next morning, the women started to become ill, 10TV's Tanisha Mallett reported.
"Sometime around mid-morning there were complications," said Mandy Goble, president and chief executive officer of Mary Rutan Hospital. "Headaches and a little bit of nausea developed, which is very common with spinal anesthesia."
Later in the day, the women were moved to Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus. Shortly before midnight, one of the women, Susan Simpson, 30, died.
Goble said her hospital immediately launched an investigation to determine what caused the infection.
"They came in about an hour apart; they were in separate rooms (and) as far as we know they did not know each other previous to the delivery," Goble said. "The only commonality that we have been able to determine is they each shared a spinal anesthesia."
The other woman, whose name was not released, remained at the hospital on Tuesday. Her family and friends told 10TV News that she was in the hospital's intensive care unit, Mallett reported.
The women's babies were in good condition at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
The Ohio Department of Health told 10TV News that the Logan County Health Department was also involved in the investigation.
Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for additional information.
Gram- Nagative in Neonatal units
Gram-Negative Rods in Neonatal ICUs
05/15/2009
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have found a high frequency of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative rods (GNRs) in two of the largest neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in the city of Manila, Philippines. Improved infection control methods could reduce the vast number of hospital-acquired neonatal infections. The BUSM study appears online in the journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.
According to researchers, hospital-acquired infections have emerged as a significant health problem in developing areas. Neonatal mortality accounts for more than one third of all global child deaths each year. Sepsis is a leading cause of death within the first month of life and is often acquired through unhygienic care practices in healthcare facilities, which frequently have limited emphasis placed on standard infection control measures.
Over a 10-month period, BUSM researchers conducted studies for colonization and bloodstream infections with gentamicin or third generation cephalosporin-resistant GNR among all NICU infants weekly and then on the day of discharge. Researchers found a total of 1,997 resistant GNRs colonizing 1,831 neonates. Results also showed that 376 newborns became bacteremic with a total of 437 GNRs.
The most common GNR species identified were Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter. A high proportion of colonization and bacteremia at the two NICUs was with non-intestinal GNRs. Factors significantly associated with increased risk of bacteremia were mechanical ventilation and prematurity. Additionally, colonization with a resistant GNR was an independent risk factor for bacteremia.
"Colonization with a resistant GNR was an independent risk factor for sepsis," said senior author, Davidson Hamer, MD, associate professor of international health and medicine at Boston University School of Public Health, and director of Boston Medical Center's Travel Clinic. "The unusually high intensity of colonization pressure and disease with multidrug-resistant GNRs at these two NICUs constitutes an emerging health care crisis in the developing world."
This study was funded by the United States Agency for International Development, the Health Resources and Services Administration and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
05/15/2009
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have found a high frequency of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative rods (GNRs) in two of the largest neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in the city of Manila, Philippines. Improved infection control methods could reduce the vast number of hospital-acquired neonatal infections. The BUSM study appears online in the journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.
According to researchers, hospital-acquired infections have emerged as a significant health problem in developing areas. Neonatal mortality accounts for more than one third of all global child deaths each year. Sepsis is a leading cause of death within the first month of life and is often acquired through unhygienic care practices in healthcare facilities, which frequently have limited emphasis placed on standard infection control measures.
Over a 10-month period, BUSM researchers conducted studies for colonization and bloodstream infections with gentamicin or third generation cephalosporin-resistant GNR among all NICU infants weekly and then on the day of discharge. Researchers found a total of 1,997 resistant GNRs colonizing 1,831 neonates. Results also showed that 376 newborns became bacteremic with a total of 437 GNRs.
The most common GNR species identified were Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter. A high proportion of colonization and bacteremia at the two NICUs was with non-intestinal GNRs. Factors significantly associated with increased risk of bacteremia were mechanical ventilation and prematurity. Additionally, colonization with a resistant GNR was an independent risk factor for bacteremia.
"Colonization with a resistant GNR was an independent risk factor for sepsis," said senior author, Davidson Hamer, MD, associate professor of international health and medicine at Boston University School of Public Health, and director of Boston Medical Center's Travel Clinic. "The unusually high intensity of colonization pressure and disease with multidrug-resistant GNRs at these two NICUs constitutes an emerging health care crisis in the developing world."
This study was funded by the United States Agency for International Development, the Health Resources and Services Administration and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Controling Resistant Bacteria - Hand washing....!!!!
Control of Resistant Bacteria in Outpatient Clinics
05/11/2009
While infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, are usually associated with inpatient settings, the potential for infection in outpatient clinics exists. A review in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) outlines infection control strategies for these settings to help minimize transmission of these potentially deadly pathogens.
"The recent emergence of community-associated MRSA, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus and C. difficile among patients with no known predisposing factors has increased the potential for offices and clinics to become silent reservoirs of these pathogens," write Dr. Anne Matlow and coauthor from the Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto.
Hygiene, education and cleaning of physical environments are important for infection control. Careful prescribing of antibiotics is also key. Healthcare workers are the main mode of transmission and should be the primary target of prevention strategies which include hand washing with alcohol-based hand rubs or soap and water – the most essential part of infection control. Additional precautions, such as gown and gloves, should be used in caring for patients with diarrhea, cystic fibrosis or draining wounds. A multi-pronged approach, including policies and guidelines for identifying and managing infected patients, access to personal protective equipment and hand sanitizers or soap and water is required to prevent transmission.
"Since most cases of transmission in ambulatory care are a result of deficient infection-control practices, strict adherence to recommendations is paramount," write the authors.
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05/11/2009
While infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, are usually associated with inpatient settings, the potential for infection in outpatient clinics exists. A review in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) outlines infection control strategies for these settings to help minimize transmission of these potentially deadly pathogens.
"The recent emergence of community-associated MRSA, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus and C. difficile among patients with no known predisposing factors has increased the potential for offices and clinics to become silent reservoirs of these pathogens," write Dr. Anne Matlow and coauthor from the Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto.
Hygiene, education and cleaning of physical environments are important for infection control. Careful prescribing of antibiotics is also key. Healthcare workers are the main mode of transmission and should be the primary target of prevention strategies which include hand washing with alcohol-based hand rubs or soap and water – the most essential part of infection control. Additional precautions, such as gown and gloves, should be used in caring for patients with diarrhea, cystic fibrosis or draining wounds. A multi-pronged approach, including policies and guidelines for identifying and managing infected patients, access to personal protective equipment and hand sanitizers or soap and water is required to prevent transmission.
"Since most cases of transmission in ambulatory care are a result of deficient infection-control practices, strict adherence to recommendations is paramount," write the authors.
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Tuesday, May 12, 2009
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