How our hospitals unleashed a MRSA epidemic [Seattle]

Seattle Times ^ | 11/16/8 | Michael J. Berens and Ken Armstrong

[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. ...

[dhs12345]

Wouldn’t want to be in the medical field.

BTW, my Mom caught MRSA at a hospital. It contributed to her death. Nasty stuff. I doesn’t just affect your skin, either.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Sounds as if the article is paving the way for the attorneys.

I hate these articles. We have the best health care system in the world.... the attorneys and the insurance companies are trying hard to put an end to that.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Sounds as if the article is paving the way for the attorneys.

I hate these articles. We have the best health care system in the world.... the attorneys and the insurance companies are trying hard to put an end to that.

[spectre]

That was a thought provoking post.

sw

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

I’ve read a lot about intravenous Vit C for many kinds of infections and inflammation.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4DKUS_enUS289US289&q=MRSA%2e+intravenous+Vit+C

[acoulterfan]

“But one of the easiest ways to keep from spreading MSRA is for the nurses and doctors to simply wash their hands as soon as they enter the patient’s rooms and before they touch anything.”

When I was in the hospital here in San Diego (Mercy) for surgery and a stay for more than 4 days, every single person that came into my room (private room) washed their hands for the required amount of time with soap before they even came over to my bed. I was impressed!