The silent killer -- the shame of our hospitals
I have just read the appreciation of a young rugger coach who was admitted to hospital with “stomach pains”, and ultimately died of septicemia with multiple organ failure.
The problem of hospital infection has worried me for some time and it was this article that propelled me from apathy to activity.
My daughter despite having widespread metastases courageously continued with her normal lifestyle until her terminal illness.
She had a setback which necessitated major spinal surgery. While convalescing at home after surgery she suddenly developed tachycardia ( rapid pulse) followed by difficulty in breathing and a fall in blood pressure.
Soon after admission to a private hospital she lapsed into unconsciousness. A CT scan of her brain revealed nothing significant. The haematologists’ diagnosis was ‘ septic encephalitis’. Subsequently the blood report and culture revealed a florid septicemia due to a hospital infection with MRSA ( Methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus).
She too had renal failure and hepatic failure ( multiple organ failure). Her death certificate did not mention septicaemia as a cause of death. Surgery had been performed at private hospital A, while admission for this terminal illness was at hospital B.
The infection was almost certainly post surgical contributed by her compromised immunological status which also resulted in the lack of overt symptoms initially such as a cough and temperature.
When I recounted her story to a surgeon I knew, the response was, “Yes this is prevalent in private hospital C too”.
All too often one hears of patients admitted with one complaint (say a cardiac infarct) showing improvement and ultimately dying of septicaemia.
It is shocking that such a situation is accepted by the hospital staff and administration. a. Regular throat swabs obtained from the staff, particularly the nursing staff to exclude carriers of MRSA b. Optimum precautions taken by the staff when nursing patients with low immunity c. Visitors to the ICU, CCU should be required to wear ‘cap, gown and mask’ as is the practice in several other countries d. Patients with lung infection should not be in the same special care unit as cardiac patients. We choose to enter private hospitals and do not complain at the high charges with the expectation of optimum standards of care, which involves the protection of the patient from secondary infection.
The indifferent attitude of the staff with regard to this is deplorable. Unfortunately, as a nation we tend to be apathetic when it comes to protesting against public issues.
Minister of Health this is over to you
Via email