Spread the word about Peanut-Butter - It could save lives!!!!

Seven people have died, hundreds have become sick, and millions more are at risk -- from peanut butter! Coming on the heels of jalapeno, spinach, and pet food recalls, we need to prevent contamination at the source.
King Nut and Parnell's Pride peanut butter, produced in a single Georgia factory, were found to be contaminated with a potentially deadly strain of salmonella and are now being recalled nationwide.
These brands, not sold in supermarkets, are widely used in nursing homes, schools, hospitals and other institutions that care for our most vulnerable family members. The plant also produces a paste used in Keebler peanut butter cookies and more than 100 other popular snacks.
Today, we underfund prevention and then spend millions to try and recall food already distributed across the nation. This makes no sense. We must ensure regular and appropriate inspection of production facilities, and efficient tracking once food has been distributed. This means a major overhaul of the FDA's food safety program.
Tell Congress that we need a major overhaul of the Food and Drug Administration!

Drug-resistant ward bug concern - BBC News

Hospitals need to be vigilant against an emerging drug-resistant bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii, infection control experts have warned.
Like MRSA and Clostridium difficile, the bacterium poses the greatest risk to seriously ill patients.
Rates of resistance to antibiotics that halt the bug currently stand at 30%, Lancet Infectious Diseases reports.
The journal report authors said the infection was a growing public health worry across the world.
Measures in the UK to control MRSA and other "hospital-acquired infections" should also bring down Acinetobacter rates, experts said.
It is important that Trusts remain vigilant in their treatment of this and all healthcare associated infections
A spokeswoman for the Health Protection Agency
Acinetobacter shares many of the "superbug" properties of MRSA and Clostridium difficile, such as survival on surfaces and resistance to disinfectants. This makes it difficult to eradicate from wards once it is there, experts say.
Typically, the bacterium causes bloodstream infections, pneumonia or infection of a wound.
It can be carried on the skin of healthy people and can be passed to patients by poor hand hygiene.
It also survives in dust and on objects such as bedding for months, making rigorous cleaning of wards essential to control its spread.
The strains of Acinetobacter that are resistant to standard treatments can be treated with other antibiotics, however, and the bug does not usually pose a threat to healthy people.
Vigilance
Strict hygiene compliance and more thorough research into drug choice, especially those for multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, are vital to prevent major outbreaks, say the report authors Professor Matthew Falagas and Dr Drosos Karageorgopoulos, of the Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences in Athens, Greece.
In the UK, the numbers of Acinetobacter bloodstream infections reported to the Health Protection Agency via its voluntary surveillance scheme increased by 5.4% between 2003 and 2007 to 1,187 reports.
We mustn't be complacent but currently its impact can be geographically constrained
Dr Andrew Berrington, a consultant microbiologist at Sunderland Royal Hospital
But the HPA says this increase could be due to increased awareness and reporting rather than a true rise in infection rates.
A spokeswoman for the Health Protection Agency said: "Acinetobacter can cause problems in those who are already seriously ill with weakened immune systems.
"Although we do see some outbreaks of this infection in the UK, numbers of cases are fortunately small.
"Transmission of this infection can be reduced by careful attention to infection control procedures such as cohort nursing groups, hand hygiene and environmental cleaning. It is important that trusts remain vigilant in their treatment of this and all healthcare associated infections."
She said the HPA had no plans to make the reporting of cases mandatory, largely because it is not deemed to be as great a threat as the notifiable hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA and C.difficile.
Professor Richard James, director of the Centre for Healthcare Associated Infections at Nottingham University, said: "If we could overnight solve the problems of hospital infections caused by C.difficile and MRSA then there are other potential superbugs like Acinetobacter baumannii lying in wait.
"Hospitals are full of sick patients and very fit bacteria that will spread from patient to patient unless infection control measures are up to the challenge.
"Acinetobacter baumannii, multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extremely drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) are examples of new threats to public health that are already causing serious problems in other countries."
Dr Andrew Berrington, a consultant microbiologist at Sunderland Royal Hospital, said there was little evidence to suggest outbreaks of Acinetobacter were becoming more common in the UK.
"We mustn't be complacent but currently its impact can be geographically constrained - some hospitals struggle to control outbreaks, others see very little of it."

Ohio hospital infection rates -----Will be public information.

Your right to learn infection rates at Ohio hospitals survives bid to stop it in legislature.by Harlan Spector/Plain Dealer Reporter
Friday December 19, 2008, 12:51 PM
Ohio hospitals will be required to report infection information to consumers, despite an attempt by the Ohio Hospital Association to stop it.
The hospital group had tried to push through legislation that would curtail recommendations for public reporting of patient care. The Hospital Measures Advisory Council, created by a 2006 law, recommended hospitals disclose common infections, and whether facilities are vigilant about hand-washing and other practices that reduce infection risk. Earlier this month, Springboro Republican Rep. Shannon Jones introduced an amendment that would invalidate much of the council's work. The amendment, attached to an unrelated Senate bill, passed in the House Health Committee. But both the House and the Senate struck it this week after the Ohio health director and others complained that it undermined efforts to inform Ohio consumers.
The advisory council spent 13 months on the reporting requirements, which are groundbreaking for Ohio. Hospitals everywhere face growing demand for accountability of their clinical care and infection rates. Under the plan, hospitals will report on a consumer Web site data on surgical wound infections, antibiotic-resistant staph and clostridium difficile (C. diff), a type of intestinal infection that has risen sharply in recent years. "I am thrilled the work of the Hospital Measures Advisory Council can continue unhampered," Ohio Health Director Dr. Alvin Jackson said in a prepared statement Thursday. The reporting measures "truly provide Ohioans with the information they want and need to make an informed decision on where to receive care," he said. Reporting is expected to start in 2009 and be available on the Web starting in January 2010, the health department said. It first goes through a health department rule-making process. A hospital association spokeswoman said the group is looking forward to working with the health department and advisory panel. Officials said some minor changes the hospital group sought were maintained in the legislation. But the controversial elements are gone, said state Sen. Kirk Schuring, a Canton Republican and member of the advisory panel. The attempt to thwart the reporting measures "violated the integrity of the good work of the Hospital Measures Advisory Council," he said.

Grant Medical Center - Trauma - Columbus, OH

I received a letter today from Grant Hospital, Columbus, Ohio responding to the QA survey that I sent after the death of my Mom. You know the standard form they provide regarding your experience at the hospital.

You will be surprised and shocked as I was regarding the content. Did you know.....the hospital is so perfect they could not find ONE single thing from improving there ability to assign a room from surgery without waiting 4 hours. Supervision of a technician whom is assisting a patient who just had back surgery, without a gain belt, or walker or assistance. My biggest compliant, not putting the call button where it can be reached to call for help. Unbelievable!

I know and work in the health care field. I am not a profectionist by any means. I only want the hospital to take responsibility for their actions and lack of that killed my loved one.
Once again the hospital is NOT telling the public the truth. They have a ton of money to do radio and television advertisements to tell you how "Wonderful" it is. LIARS!!!!!!
If they had to report the infection rate to the public - It's amazing that the hospital would be open to serve the sick. That is my opinion, I have experienced it.

**I know that all hospitals and care centers have amazing staff and medical providers**They are angels sent to heal others, I know my Mom, was a nurse! It's a gift

This is the most frustrating part of healing. Dealing with the administrative people, who have no idea what you just experienced. They are very condescending with little regard that "They" are only doing their job to make it better. So when you get a phone call or letter from the hospital it really hits home, the reality of it SUCKS! and life moves on in your desperate attempt to put your life together and breath ---trying to function and move on.

So when you get a survey, TAKE the time to report your concerns and ways they can make improvements and make the hospital QA dept earn there money. Responding to the people.
Possibly, they would make a positive change to serve others in a healthly respectful manner.

Looking for Ohio Surviors- Please respond your NOT alone!

I am looking for healing and educating others whom have suffered and lossed a loved one from an Infectious Disease. I lost my Mother in 17 days, it can happen to anyone who is treated in an infected hospital and and you many not even know or realize until they pass.

I was notified of the infection- resulting in 72 hours of hope, treatment & praying for a drugs to work. The reality of knowing that your loved one is dying and there is nothing you can do.
I did everything i my power and resources to grant her wishes to pass with dignity. I know we are not the one in a million in Columbus, OH. I see postings but have not made contact with others in my area.

To use what I know to tell others of the dangers in the hospital and educate others and change the Ohio laws. That is my goal. If I can help one person and provide support to a family in need. I will be paying it forward in "Ruth's name, because she always gave to others.

Please send me your experiences, share your knowledge and educate me.
Best wishes for a positive and healthy New Year!

Tell Congress to STOP Hospital Infections in Ohio

Please take action:

I just took action to support the reduction of hospital and community acquired infections by asking my US Senators and Representative to co-sponsor legislation that will disclose hospital infection rates to the public. Every year almost 100,000 people die from infections they acquire in the hospital. These infections add significantly to overall hospital costs, which CDC estimates to be as much as $27.5 billion a year. But we have no way of knowing whether our local hospitals are doing a good job preventing these deadly infections. Please send an email now to your members of Congress and ask them to co-sponsor S2278 by Senator Durbin, HR 4214 by Rep. Cummings, and HR 1174 by Rep. Tim Murphy. To send an email just like I did, please go to www.stophospitalinfections.org. just takes a few minutes to fill in the blanks

Our voices combined will make a difference!

Searching for others in Ohio to network information

My goal here is to network vital infectious desease information directly from people in Ohio.

From my own personal experience I am looking to find and reach out to others for your personal experiences and life stories to assist each other in life saving information.

Please keep in mind that hospitals are not required to report all Infectious desease information to the general public by the Ohio Revised Code. It seems to be a dirty secret, that no-one wants to provide statistics. So I am looking to empower the public with facts.