Super bug kills dozens in hospitals across country (Israel)

[TexasLawyer]

Super bug kills dozens in hospitals across country

Virulent stain of bacteria believed to be cause of death
of 120-200 patients in hospitals. Experts explain most
of those infected were already suffering from prior medical conditions.
Health ministry says outbreak was kept secret to avoid mass panic.

Meital Yasur-Beit Or Published: 03.07.07

A deadly bacterium known as Klebsiella pneumoniae is believed to have killed some 120-200 patients in hospitals across the country.

"Between 400 to 500 people have been infected by the bug, and 30 to 40 percent of them have already died. However, it is important to note that most of them were in a serious condition, and some were suffering from prior medical conditions," said Prof. Yehuda Carmeli, the head of the epidemiology unit at the Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv.

According to Carmeli, most of those infected have been hospitalized for over 25 days, and their average age stood at 74-75. The virulent stain of bacteria is resistant to all kinds of antibiotics, and has already spread in many hospitals across Israel.

Health Minister Yacov Ben Yizri on Wednesday rejected accusations that his ministry had underestimated the scope of the outbreak, saying the case was kept a secret to prevent mass panic.

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http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3373478,00.html

[Name removed]

1. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[daleo]

2. Britain is having huge problems with MRSA

C. Difficile is an enormous problem in many countries. Nothing too unusual about this.

[LeftishBrit]

7. Yes. Deaths from MRSA and other 'superbugs' are increasing here

Very worrying indeed. Probably due to a combination of past overuse of antibiotics; overcrowding of hospitals; and the brilliant decision of Tories and New Labour to privatize the cleaning services in hospitals. Oh, and the fact that decision-making in hospitals is increasingly left up to professional managers rather than to experienced doctors and nurses.

[rainbow4321]

3. Dallas area boy just died from MRSA pneumonia--and now his dad is sick

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/DN-killerpneumoniafolo_07cco.ART.State.Edition1.441e5e1.html

The father of a boy who died from a rare form of pneumonia has been hospitalized, raising questions about the contagiousness of the illness.

Jeff Coryell of Richardson is being treated at Medical City Dallas Hospital. An e-mail from his employer to his co-workers said he was being treated in the hospital's intensive care unit for an "MRSA staph infection." Friends of the family have said it is pneumonia.

Jeff's son, Drew, died Jan. 30 from pneumonia caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and streptococcus infections. He left school sick on a Friday and died four days later.

Health officials said that while the risk of getting MRSA pneumonia from someone else appears to be low, the public should be better educated about the risks of MRSA and ways to avoid infection.

[MGD]

6. Klebsiella pneumonia is a different species than MRSA

Over use and the inappropriate use of antibiotics has led to numerous multi-drug and pan-drug resistant organisms. A multidrug resistant K. Pneumonia is just one more wee little beasty that verifies that the theory of evolution is more than a theory. Incidentally, there are hospitals in this country where MRSA is the norm and non methycillin resistant Staph. aureus is the exception. Texas was particularly bad about MRSA.

[jaksavage]

4. One way or another

I'm gonna kill ya
I'll gitcha, I'll gitcha

We don't even have a clue how toxic our environment has gotten.
Much less take any responsability for it.

[Karenina]

5. And ain't that the truth!

Welcome to DU, Jaksavage! :toast:

[Javaman]

8. I'm catching up on my old National Geographic's at the moment

and in the October 2006 issue there is an amazing article on just this, the various toxins that are found in our bodies because of the high levels now in the environment. It's terrifying.

I'm switching my deodorant to a natural one and getting rid of my teflon pans.

[jaksavage]

9. Arsenic, Mercury, Benzene

There are so many toxins.
not to mention food additives, and materials off gassing.

It is difficult to impossible to avoid it all.