Germ Outbreak Reported at L.A. Hospital

[Guest guest]

- W.G.E.N.

idzrus

Saturday, December 16, 2006 10:10 AM

HEAL: Germ Outbreak Reported at L.A. Hospital

Many thanks to Randy (The Alabama Wildman) for sending this one to WGEN.I think this is much more widely happening but not reported (covered up). How can anyone not understand that when you allow sewage into the drinking water that all who drink or wash with it will be infected. When we allow all these ILLEGALS and their DISEASES into our hospitals and clinics - those diseases are GOING TO SPREAD TO US!!! All the more reason to avoid the mainstream health care and learn how to handle our medical needs at home with NATURAL methods - avoiding the poisons of Big Pharma. And while we are on the Health topic - I am wondering just how many of these *isolated* E-Coli breakouts are not being intentionally set up. It all inserts FEAR into the population and FEAR is how this corrupt government herds this country into accepting things they would NEVER accept if they stopped to THINK and not blindly accept what government feeds us via the media. Stop sucking off the government teat for all things and that includes information.All these *anchor babies* are going to sink us one way or another.Jackie JunttiWGEN idzrusGerm Outbreak Reported at L.A. Hospitalhttp://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/12/16/D8M1P6FG0.htmlA hospital has closed its neonatal and pediatrics intensive care units to new admissions after a potentially fatal bacterium sickened seven children, including an infant who may have died from the infection, officials said Friday. White Memorial Medical Center shut down the neonatal unit on Dec. 4 following an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, hospital officials said. The germ is believed to have infected five babies in the unit since it was detected on Nov. 30, said Dr. Laurene Mascola, director of the county's acute communicable disease control unit. One of the infants died, likely because of the pathogen, she said. On Friday, the hospital shuttered the pediatrics intensive care ward after discovering the bacterium had infected an infant and a toddler there, Dr. Rosalio Lopez, the hospital's chief medical officer, said in a statement. Officials say they've identified the source of the outbreak _ a medical instrument called a laryngoscope used to inspect an infant's larynx _ and don't believe there is a danger to other babies. Though common, the germ is particularly virulent in those with weak immune systems such as newborns who are premature or critically ill.

 

Background Info:

 

http://textbookofbacteriology.net/pseudomonas.htmlPseudomonas aeruginosa is the epitome of an opportunistic pathogen of humans. The bacterium almost never infects uncompromised tissues, yet there is hardly any tissue that it cannot infect if the tissue defenses are compromised in some manner. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative, aerobic rod belonging to the bacterial family Pseudomonadaceae. The family includes other genera, which, together with certain other organisms, constitute the bacteria informally known as pseudomonads. These bacteria are common inhabitants of soil and water. They occur regularly on the surfaces of plants and occasionally on the surfaces of animals. The pseudomonads are well known to plant microbiologists because they are one of the few groups of bacteria that are true pathogens of plants. In fact, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is occasionally a pathogen of plants. But Pseudomonas aeruginosa and two former Pseudomonas species (now reclassified as Burkholderia) are pathogens of humans. A general treatment of the pseudomonads is presented in The Genus Pseudomonas . This chapter deals specifically with Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a pathogen of humans. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen, meaning that it exploits some break in the host defenses to initiate an infection. It causes urinary tract infections, respiratory system infections, dermatitis, soft tissue infections, bacteremia, bone and joint infections, gastrointestinal infections and a variety of systemic infections, particularly in patients with severe burns and in cancer and AIDS patients who are immunosuppressed. Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection is a serious problem in patients hospitalized with cancer, cystic fibrosis, and burns. The case fatality rate in these patients is 50 percent. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is primarily a nosocomial pathogen. According to the CDC, the overall incidence of P. aeruginosa infections in US hospitals averages about 0.4 percent (4 per 1000 discharges), and the bacterium is the fourth most commonly-isolated nosocomial pathogen accounting for 10.1 percent of all hospital-acquired infections.===============================http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic1943.htmBackground: Pseudomonas is a gram-negative rod that belongs to the family Pseudomonadaceae. More than half of all clinical isolates produce the blue-green pigment pyocyanin. Often, Pseudomonas has a characteristic sweet odor. These pathogens are widespread in nature, inhabiting soil, water, plants, and animals (including humans). Pseudomonas aeruginosa has become an important cause of infection, especially in patients with compromised host defense mechanisms. It is the most common pathogen isolated from patients who have been hospitalized longer than 1 week. It is a frequent cause of nosocomial infections such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and bacteremia. Pseudomonal infections are complicated and can be life threatening.Pathophysiology: P aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen. It rarely causes disease in healthy persons. In most cases of infection, the integrity of a physical barrier to infection (eg, skin, mucous membrane) is lost or an underlying immune deficiency (eg, neutropenia, immunosuppression) is present. Adding to its pathogenicity, this bacterium has minimal nutritional requirements and can tolerate a wide variety of physical conditions. The pathogenesis of pseudomonal infections is multifactorial and complex. Pseudomonas is both invasive and toxigenic. The 3 stages, according to Pollack (2000), are (1) bacterial attachment and colonization, (2) local infection, and (3) bloodstream dissemination and systemic disease. The importance of colonization and adherence is most evident when studied in the context of respiratory tract infection in patients with cystic fibrosis and in those that complicate mechanical ventilation. Production of extracellular proteases adds to the organism's virulence by assisting in bacterial adherence and invasion.Frequency:

In the US: According to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data collected from 1990-1996, P aeruginosa was the second most common cause of nosocomial pneumonia (17% of isolates), the third most common cause of UTI (11%), the fourth most common cause of surgical site infections (8%), the seventh most common isolated pathogen from the bloodstream (3%), and the fifth most common isolate overall (9%)­obtained from all sites. Internationally: P aeruginosa is common in patients with diabetes who are immunocompromised. Mortality/Morbidity: All infections caused by P aeruginosa are treatable and potentially curable. Acute fulminant infections, such as bacteremic pneumonia, sepsis, burn wound infections, and meningitis, are associated with extremely high mortality. Race: P aeruginosa endocarditis in individuals who abuse intravenous (IV) drugs is observed mainly among young black males. Sex: Cases of endocarditis and vertebral osteomyelitis have been observed in young males who use IV drugs. Age:

 

Vertebral osteomyelitis resulting from a pseudomonal infection mainly occurs in elderly patients and often involves the lumbosacral spine. Young people who use IV drugs may also be affected. Involvement of the GI tract most commonly occurs in infants and patients with hematologic malignancies and neutropenia that has resulted from chemotherapy. The incidence of pseudomonal pneumonia in patients with cystic fibrosis has shown a shift towards patients who are older than 26 years. CLINICAL Section 3 of 10 Author Information Introduction Clinical Differentials Workup Treatment Medication Follow-up Miscellaneous BibliographyHistory: Pseudomonal infections can involve any part of the body.

Respiratory tract

Pneumonia is observed in patients with immunosuppression and chronic lung disease. It can be acquired nosocomially in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting and is associated with positive-pressure ventilation and endotracheal tubes. The pneumonia may be primary and follow aspiration of the organism from the upper respiratory tract, especially in patients on mechanical ventilation. Alternatively, it may occur as a result of bacteremic spread to the lungs. This is observed commonly in patients following chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. Bacteremic pneumonia occurs in patients with neutropenia following chemotherapy and in patients with AIDS. Chronic infection of the lower respiratory tract with Pseudomonas aeruginosa is prevalent among patients with cystic fibrosis. These patients may present with chronic productive cough, anorexia, weight loss, wheezing, and tachypnea. Symptoms of pneumonia include fever, chills, severe dyspnea, cyanosis, productive cough, confusion, and other signs of a systemic inflammatory response.

Bacteremia

Bacteremia may be acquired via medical devices in hospitals and nursing homes, and the mortality rate remains greater than 10%. Signs and symptoms depend on the primary site of infection.

Endocarditis

P aeruginosa may infect native heart valves in individuals who abuse IV drugs, and it also may infect prosthetic heart valves. Right-sided and left-sided valve infections may occur. Nonspecific symptoms include fever and malaise, with more specific symptoms depending on which cardiac valve is involved. Left-sided endocarditis typically presents with symptoms of congestive heart failure and those resulting from systemic spread of septic emboli.

Central nervous system

P aeruginosa can cause meningitis and brain abscess. Most infections follow an extension from a contiguous parameningeal structure, such as an ear, a mastoid, paranasal sinus surgery, or diagnostic procedures. In some patients, the involvement of the CNS is due to hematogenous spread of the organism from infective endocarditis, pneumonia, or UTI. Patients present with fever, headache, and confusion. The onset may be fulminant or subacute, often depending on the immune status of the patient.

Ear

In external otitis (swimmer's ear), patients present with pain, pruritus, and ear discharge. The pain is worsened by traction on the pinna. Pseudomonas is a common cause of chronic otitis media. Malignant otitis externa is a manifestation of invasive infection predominantly observed in patients with uncontrolled diabetes. It begins as ordinary otitis externa that fails to respond to antibiotic therapy. Presenting symptoms are persistent pain, edema, and tenderness of the soft tissues of the ear, with a purulent discharge. Fever is uncommon, and some patients present with a facial nerve palsy. Extension of the infection to the temporal bone can result in osteomyelitis, and further extension can create cranial nerve palsies and possibly a CNS infection.

Eye

The cornea, aqueous humor, and vitreous humor comprise an immunocompromised environment, and Pseudomonas, when introduced, produces extracellular enzymes that cause a rapidly progressive and destructive lesion. P aeruginosa is a common cause of bacterial keratitis, scleral abscess, and endophthalmitis in adults and ophthalmia neonatorum in children. Predisposing conditions for corneal involvement are trauma, contact lens use, predisposing ocular conditions, exposure to an ICU environment, and AIDS. Corneal lesions can progress to endophthalmitis and orbital cellulitis. Symptoms are pain, redness, swelling, and impaired vision.

Bones and joints

The most common sites of involvement are the vertebral column, the pelvis, and the sternoclavicular joint. Infection may be blood-borne, as in individuals who abuse IV drugs or in patients with pelvic infections or UTI. Alternatively, the infection may be contiguous, related to penetrating trauma, surgery, or overlying soft tissue infections. Patients at risk for pseudomonal bone and joint infections include those with puncture wounds to the foot, peripheral vascular disease, IV drug abuse, or diabetes mellitus. Vertebral osteomyelitis may involve the cervical spine, and patients present with neck or back pain lasting weeks to months. Occasionally, patients with complicated UTI may develop lumbosacral vertebral osteomyelitis. Patients with pyoarthrosis present with swelling and pain in the affected joint. Patients persistently are febrile.

Gastrointestinal

Pseudomonal infections can affect every portion of the GI tract. The disease often is underestimated but, most commonly, it affects very young children and adults with hematologic malignancies and chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. Additionally, colonization of the GI tract is an important portal of entry for pseudomonal bacteremia in patients who are neutropenic. The spectrum of disease can range from very mild symptoms to severe necrotizing enterocolitis with significant morbidity and mortality. Epidemics of pseudomonal diarrhea can occur in nurseries. Young infants may present with irritability, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. The infection can cause enteritis, with patients presenting with prostration, headache, fever, and diarrhea (Shanghai fever). Pseudomonas typhlitis typically presents in patients with neutropenia resulting from acute leukemia, with a sudden onset of fever, abdominal distension, and worsening abdominal pain.

Urinary tract infections

Pseudomonal infections of the urinary tract usually are hospital-acquired and iatrogenic, related to catheterization, instrumentation, and surgery. These infections can involve the urinary tract through an ascending infection or through bacteremic spread and are a frequent source of bacteremia. No specific characteristics distinguish this type of infection from other forms of UTI.

Skin

Pseudomonas does not grow on dry skin, but it flourishes on moist skin. Green nail syndrome is a paronychial infection that can develop in individuals whose hands frequently are submerged in water. Secondary wound infections occur in patients with decubiti, eczema, and tenia pedis. These infections may have a characteristic blue-green exudate with a fruity odor. Pseudomonas is a common cause of hot tub or swimming pool folliculitis. Patients can present with pruritic follicular, maculopapular, vesicular, or pustular lesions on any part of the body that was immersed in water. Pseudomonal bacteremia produces distinctive skin lesions known as ecthyma gangrenosum. Pseudomonas also has emerged as an important source of burn wound sepsis. Invasive burn wound sepsis is defined as the bacterial proliferation of 100,000 organisms per gram of tissue, with subjacent involvement of subjacent unburned tissue. Physical:

 

Endocarditis

Fever is present and may respond to antibiotics, despite the presence of bacteremia. A new onset of cardiac murmur or a change in character of a preexisting murmur may develop. Peripheral signs of thromboembolism, such as Janeway lesions, Osler nodes, and ecthyma gangrenosum, may occur.

Pneumonia

Patients have rales, rhonchi, fever, cyanosis, retractions, and relative bradycardia. Shock may develop in patients with bacteremic pneumonia. Patients with cystic fibrosis may reveal clubbing, increased anteroposterior (AP) diameter, and malnutrition.

Gastrointestinal tract

Young infants with diarrhea may have fever, signs of dehydration, abdominal distension, and signs of peritonitis. Physical findings of Shanghai fever may include fever, splenomegaly, and rose spots. Depending on the severity of the illness, prostration, dehydration, and vascular collapse may be observed.

Skin and soft tissue infections

Ecthyma gangrenosum lesions are hemorrhagic and necrotic, with surrounding erythema. These characteristic lesions almost always are caused by Pseudomonas and usually are found in the axilla, groin, or perianal area but may involve any part of body. Subcutaneous nodules, deep abscesses, cellulitis, and fasciitis also may occur. Pseudomonal burn wound infections appear black or as a violaceous discoloration or eschar. Systemic manifestations of burn wound sepsis may include fever or hypothermia, disorientation, hypotension, oliguria, ileus, and leukopenia.

Bone and joint infections

Vertebral osteomyelitis reveals local tenderness and a decreased range of motion. Neurological deficits, when present, are mild.

With eye infections, the physical examination reveals lid edema, conjunctival erythema and chemosis, and severe mucopurulent discharge adherent to an underlying corneal ulcer. Malignant otitis externa

The external auditory canal is erythematous, swollen, inflamed, and has discharge. The tympanic membrane is hidden from view because of edema and may be ruptured. Local lymphadenopathy may be present.

Bacteremia

Patients have fever, tachypnea, and tachycardia. Hypotension and shock may develop. Jaundice may occur. Skin shows characteristic skin lesions called ecthyma gangrenosum. Causes:

 

Pseudomonal bacteremia occurs in malignancy, chemotherapy, AIDS, burn wound sepsis, and diabetes. Certain populations of patients are especially susceptible to pseudomonal infections. Predisposing conditions include placement of IV lines, severe burns, urinary tract catheterization, surgery, trauma, and premature birth (infants). Conditions predisposing to pseudomonal infections (ie, type of infection most prevalent in that condition)

Diabetes - Malignant otitis externa Drug addiction - Endocarditis, osteomyelitis Leukemia - Sepsis, typhlitis Cancer - Pneumonia, sepsis Burn wound - Cellulitis, sepsis Cystic fibrosis - Pneumonia Surgery involving CNS - Meningitis Tracheostomy - Pneumonia Neonatal period - Diarrhea Corneal ulcer - Panophthalmitis Vascular catheterization - Suppurative thrombophlebitis Urinary catheterization - UTI Lots of great links to INS sites here: http://grassrootsgranny.com/http://www.lewisnews.comhttp://www.freedomsphoenix.comhttp://www.americanpatrol.com/http://wnd.com/http://www.thedustininmansociety.org/blog/http://www.sundaynite.net/Blog.htmhttp://www.thaddeusmatthews.com/blog/html/ (Memphis oriented politics)WATCH: http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/lou.dobbs.tonight/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. GRG [Ref.http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml]-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.... The purpose of WGEN is to encourage you to THINK ...WGEN holds no polls, sends no attachments to list mail & is not a discussion list.To Subscribe (or ) send email to WGEN idzrus - indicate the state you live in.**Note - you can't ** unless you are *d* - if you receive a *forwarded copy* WGEN can't help you. Please notify the party who forwards the email to you. My Rhetorical and dripping sarcasm comments are at no extra charge. Learn the difference.The WGEN board is for discussion - please use it - http://www.voy.com/19385/ Repeated bounced mail results in removal of address from the list.REMINDER TO ALL: A couple things to keep in mind with WGEN submittals: Always include the source URL, the entire article, and NO attachments as I do not open any of them. Posts outside those guidelines aren't dealt with - I just don't have the time - dial up is slow.AOL refuses to deliver a great deal of WGEN email so several bounce backs will result in deletion of AOL addresses. Check the WGEN board to see what you AOL folks have missed CORUM DEO ------------ Grassroots Granny http://grassrootsgranny.com/

[Guest guest]

I think you could have chosen a less racist piece of crap to forward

as that first article below; the misinformed writer Randy doesn't

even know the mentioned disease are common; quoting from source

material he forwards further down: " [in the USA] P aeruginosa was the

second most common cause of nosocomial pneumonia " .

 

Duncan

 

, " NEWS FROM THE TIPI "

<cherokee419 wrote:

>

>

> -

> W.G.E.N.

> idzrus

> Saturday, December 16, 2006 10:10 AM

> HEAL: Germ Outbreak Reported at L.A. Hospital

>

>

> Many thanks to Randy (The Alabama Wildman) for sending this one to

WGEN.

>

> I think this is much more widely happening but not reported

(covered up). How can anyone not understand that when you allow

sewage into the drinking water that all who drink or wash with it

will be infected. When we allow all these ILLEGALS and their

DISEASES into our hospitals and clinics - those diseases are GOING TO

SPREAD TO US!!! All the more reason to avoid the mainstream health

care and learn how to handle our medical needs at home with NATURAL

methods - avoiding the poisons of Big Pharma. And while we are on

the Health topic - I am wondering just how many of these *isolated*

E-Coli breakouts are not being intentionally set up. It all inserts

FEAR into the population and FEAR is how this corrupt government

herds this country into accepting things they would NEVER accept if

they stopped to THINK and not blindly accept what government feeds us

via the media. Stop sucking off the government teat for all things

and that includes information.

>

> All these *anchor babies* are going to sink us one way or another.

>

> Jackie Juntti

> WGEN idzrus