Sepsis growing threat at nursing homes
Q: I hear that sepsis is an ever-increasing problem in nursing homes. We have just recently put my mom into a care facility. Do we need to be concerned? — Lois D., Lebanon, New Hampshire
A: Unfortunately, as antibiotic resistance increases, sepsis is a growing threat. According to NBC News, a federal report found that care related to sepsis was the most common reason given for transfers of nursing home residents to hospitals. (Sepsis treatment costs Medicare more than $2 billion annually.)
Sepsis is your body’s overactive and toxic response to an infection. Staph infections, as well as infections with E coli and some types of Streptococcus (often associated with pneumonia and urinary tract infections), are frequent triggers, but even the flu can be the precursor. The elderly, babies under age 1, and anyone with a chronic illness or a compromised immune system are at risk.
The first signs usually are a high fever, extreme pain, clammy skin, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate and, particularly in the elderly, cognitive decline, such as confusion and sleepiness. These should send you to an emergency room PRONTO!
The CDC stresses the importance of hand-washing, wound care and being upto-date on all vaccinations. In your mom’s case, make sure she does not develop bedsores and the staff practices impeccable hygiene.
Q: I was walking on the sidewalk in Washington, and I almost got killed by one of these new electric scooters. They are a menace to the riders and those around them! This is a public health issue, is it not? — Andy F., Bethesda, Maryland
A: You bet it is! From San Francisco to San Diego and from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Miami, these electric scooters are popping up as part of ride-share initiatives. And every place they show up, there’s a notable spike in emergency department visits for treatment of injuries more commonly associated with automobile accidents: broken hands, collarbones and jaws, and concussions.
According to scooter advocates, these new alternative modes of public transportation are meant to “encourage safer and more sustainable transportation patterns.”
California and Oregon now require helmets for e-scooter riders. We suggest riders stay in bike lanes, out of the flow of traffic and off pedestrian walkways. Helmets and knee and elbow pads are good safety precautions, too.
Email questions for Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen to youdocsdaily@sharecare. com.