Health News
- Consumer Reports Releases Annual Hospital-acquired Infection Report; Some Ky. Hospitals Have Work To Do; State To Get Data
A new study from Consumer Reports has analyzed hospital-acquired infection data for thousands of hospitals across the U.S. and rated them on how well they prevented these infections. Not all hospitals in Kentucky were rated, but of the ones that were,...
- Prescribing Antibiotics For Viral Infections Must Stop; Overuse Of Antibiotics Causes Antibiotic-resistant 'superbugs'
Bronchitis is a viral infection, and antibiotics are not effective for treating viral infections. Doctors know this, yet they continue to prescribe antibiotics to patients with bronchitis and other viral infections anyway, Ezra Klein reports on his new...
- Deadly, Drug-resistant Bacteria Are Becoming More Common In Kentucky Hospitals; Key Lawmaker Wants To Require Public Reporting
Nightmarish, drug-resistant bacteria that cause deadly infections are becoming more common in Kentucky hospitals, and a leading legislator on health issues says they should be required to report each case. The state Department for Public Health and hospital...
- Kentucky Second Highest In Antibiotic Consumption In U.s.
The next time you ask your doctor for an antibiotic, or if he or she offers to give you one, think again. It might do your health no good, but could be bad for public health. "Every time an antibiotic is used ... future effectiveness of that drug is diminished,"...
- How To Reduce Your Chance Of Aquiring A Staph Infection
In the news today, a new scientific report suggests that swimmers using public ocean beaches increase their risk for exposure to staph bacteria and potential infections. Staph infections are a growing public health concern. You acquire a staph infection...
Health News
Nightmare, drug-resistant superbugs, including one that kills half the people who get it, are a big threat
"Nightmare bacteria" leading to deadly infections that are difficult and sometimes impossible to treat are on the rise in American hospitals, and threaten to spread to otherwise healthy people outside of medical facilities, according to a federal Centers for Disease Control Vital Signs report published Tuesday.
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These superbugs, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or CRE, have become resistant to nearly all the antibiotics available today, including drugs of last resort. According to the report, CRE infections are caused by a family of germs that are a normal part of a person's healthy digestive system, but can cause infections when they get into the bladder, blood or other areas where they don't belong.
The report says almost all CRE infections are found in patients receiving serious medical care, and they kill up to half of patients who get bloodstream infections from them. In addition to spreading among people, CREs easily spread their antibiotic resistance to other kinds of germs, making those potentially untreatable as well.
Only 10 years ago, such resistance was hardly ever seen in this group of germs. Although these superbugs are uncommon, their prevalence has quadrupled in the past decade in medical facilities in 42 states, the CDC says.
The report calls for immediate action to stop the spread of these deadly infection; it is a critical time for U.S. doctors, nurses lab staff, medical facility leaders, health departments, states, policymakers and patients to help fight the spread through coordinated and consistent efforts.
The report asks patients to do three things: Tell your doctor if you have been hospitalized in another facility or country, take antibiotics only as prescribed, and insist that everyone wash their hands before touching you. For more details, click here for the Vital Signs report.
?
These superbugs, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or CRE, have become resistant to nearly all the antibiotics available today, including drugs of last resort. According to the report, CRE infections are caused by a family of germs that are a normal part of a person's healthy digestive system, but can cause infections when they get into the bladder, blood or other areas where they don't belong.
The report says almost all CRE infections are found in patients receiving serious medical care, and they kill up to half of patients who get bloodstream infections from them. In addition to spreading among people, CREs easily spread their antibiotic resistance to other kinds of germs, making those potentially untreatable as well.
The report calls for immediate action to stop the spread of these deadly infection; it is a critical time for U.S. doctors, nurses lab staff, medical facility leaders, health departments, states, policymakers and patients to help fight the spread through coordinated and consistent efforts.
The report asks patients to do three things: Tell your doctor if you have been hospitalized in another facility or country, take antibiotics only as prescribed, and insist that everyone wash their hands before touching you. For more details, click here for the Vital Signs report.
- Consumer Reports Releases Annual Hospital-acquired Infection Report; Some Ky. Hospitals Have Work To Do; State To Get Data
A new study from Consumer Reports has analyzed hospital-acquired infection data for thousands of hospitals across the U.S. and rated them on how well they prevented these infections. Not all hospitals in Kentucky were rated, but of the ones that were,...
- Prescribing Antibiotics For Viral Infections Must Stop; Overuse Of Antibiotics Causes Antibiotic-resistant 'superbugs'
Bronchitis is a viral infection, and antibiotics are not effective for treating viral infections. Doctors know this, yet they continue to prescribe antibiotics to patients with bronchitis and other viral infections anyway, Ezra Klein reports on his new...
- Deadly, Drug-resistant Bacteria Are Becoming More Common In Kentucky Hospitals; Key Lawmaker Wants To Require Public Reporting
Nightmarish, drug-resistant bacteria that cause deadly infections are becoming more common in Kentucky hospitals, and a leading legislator on health issues says they should be required to report each case. The state Department for Public Health and hospital...
- Kentucky Second Highest In Antibiotic Consumption In U.s.
The next time you ask your doctor for an antibiotic, or if he or she offers to give you one, think again. It might do your health no good, but could be bad for public health. "Every time an antibiotic is used ... future effectiveness of that drug is diminished,"...
- How To Reduce Your Chance Of Aquiring A Staph Infection
In the news today, a new scientific report suggests that swimmers using public ocean beaches increase their risk for exposure to staph bacteria and potential infections. Staph infections are a growing public health concern. You acquire a staph infection...