| We are all aware that the world is going potty in | | | | people's care homes than in hospitals. Carriers of |
| a mad sort of way, but when people start to | | | | the disease have can spread germs, even if |
| follow suit then it becomes a worrying time for us | | | | they're not sick themselves. The aged and ailing |
| all and especially more so for those if admission to | | | | are more susceptible. |
| hospital is imminent. People trained to heal are | | | | Patients on dialysis, or catheterized, or have |
| abusing their position (not all) by ignoring situations | | | | feeding tubes are at higher risk. MRSA stands for |
| where compassion should be a number 1 priority. | | | | Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus an |
| Is our hospitals curing or killing patients. Over the | | | | infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus |
| years the ailing has put their trust in hospital | | | | bacteria (staph.) Many years ago, staph emerged |
| procedures, only to have them now question, is | | | | in hospitals which were opposed to the |
| today's welfare care worthy of our trust. | | | | broad-spectrum antibiotics normally used to treat |
| Hospitals are under strict debate as to being a | | | | it. It is an infection of seriousness, so serious it |
| place that poses more threats to ones health | | | | can kill. It was one of the first germs to outsmart |
| than that of the plague, HIV and other killer | | | | all but the most influential drugs. |
| diseases. | | | | Regular place of habitat for Staph bacteria to |
| It was the harrowing story about Margaret | | | | settle are normally on the skin or in the nasal |
| Hudson, of Jarrow that had me throw light on this | | | | region. If a patient has staph in the nose or on |
| problem. Hospital officials are investigating after a | | | | the skin and shows no sign of sickness, are |
| nurse banned a daughter from her dying mother's | | | | usually "colonized." Staph bacteria are generally |
| bedside. Margaret Hudson was ordered home | | | | harmless like most other body bacteria's, |
| while her 107-year-old mother called out her name | | | | however if permitted to enter the body through |
| at South Tyneside District Hospital. She was | | | | an open cut, it can cause minor skin issues. |
| informed relatives could only stay during visiting | | | | Symptoms of the Staph infection are easily |
| hours. The ageing 75-year-old daughter was | | | | recognized as little red bumps similar to acne |
| denied holding her mothers hand and to comfort | | | | pimples, boils or spider bites. Rapidly they can turn |
| her. She returned later with only minutes to go | | | | into painful abscesses that will need surgical |
| before her mother passed away. The hospital has | | | | draining. In some cases the bacteria may stay |
| apologised. It is too late for sorry. Did the nurse in | | | | curbed to the skin, if the bacteria tunnels into the |
| question not have a mother? Fair enough should | | | | body, it poses threat - causing infections in bones, |
| the presence of the daughter have interfered | | | | joints, bloodstream, the heart valves and lungs. Of |
| with medical practice taking place, then | | | | course if body organs that keep us alive are |
| understandable, but this was not the case . | | | | infected then this is when the infection can turn |
| Miss Hudson said: "Mam was suffering and calling | | | | killer. |
| out my name so I asked could I be at her side, | | | | Clostridium difficile |
| but was rudely told ‘no'. This was evidently a | | | | Healthcare associated infections have increased. |
| time for compassion Hudson said that she offered | | | | One of the most prevalent and potentially |
| to pay for a private room but the cold hearted | | | | dangerous is caused by the bacterium Clostridium |
| nurse turned her back and said 'we don't have | | | | difficile, known as C. diff or C. difficile. There is no |
| one', and sent her packing. We have all been | | | | evading this type bacteria, it is everywhere i.e. the |
| taught to respect people who save lives but | | | | air we breathe – the water we drink. It is |
| when they prevent those living to say goodbye | | | | harmless unless it develops in great masses in the |
| to their loved ones, is an inhumane act where | | | | intestinal tract of people taking antibiotics or other |
| respect is gone. May this nurse hold her head in | | | | antimicrobial drugs. C. difficile symptoms range |
| shame for a long time? | | | | from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammations of |
| "I've been caring for mam every day for the | | | | the colon. Cdiff isn't directed to hospitals |
| past 25 years and when she needed me most I | | | | altogether. It's a growing health concern |
| was not there." said Hudson. Her mother was | | | | regardless. |
| admitted to hospital after suffering a stomach | | | | Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a spore shaping |
| upset and slept through the first night after her | | | | bacterium present as one of the 'normal' bacteria |
| daughter was sent home. However, her condition | | | | in the gut of up to 3 per cent of healthy grown |
| deteriorated and doctors called her daughter, who | | | | ups. Patients treated with broad spectrum |
| returned at the official visiting time in the | | | | antibiotics are at greatest risk of C. difficile. As like |
| afternoon. A spokesman for South Tyneside | | | | MRSA the risks increase if elderly or have a weak |
| Hospital said the matter is under investigation. He | | | | immune system. The number of death |
| said: "On balance, we feel that on this sad | | | | certificates in England and Wales mentioning |
| occasion our staff was not as obliging as they | | | | Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection increased |
| might have been and, in retrospect, the lady | | | | each year from 1999 to 2006. In 2006 there |
| should have been allowed to stay. | | | | were a staggering 6,480 death certificates which |
| Are hospitals taking lives instead of saving them? | | | | mentioned C. difficile, a 72 per cent increase from |
| Risk factors for hospital-acquired (HA) MRSA | | | | 2005. Among death certificates with a mention of |
| include: | | | | C. difficile, the percentage for which it was the |
| MRSA remains a major concern in hospitals, it | | | | underlying cause of death was similar (around 55 |
| was reported in 2007 that 1.2 million hospital | | | | per cent) in each year. |
| patients are infected with MRSA each year in | | | | This concern needs to remedied fast. Calling for |
| America alone, these figures are quite scary and | | | | "strict" hygiene standards in our hospitals is not |
| the number for those colonized is estimated at | | | | enough; it has to be a "stricter" calling. |
| 423,000. MRSA is far more widespread in old | | | | |