What should have been a three-day stay in the hospital for knee replacement surgery has turned into a battle with a deadly infection for Conroe resident Alexander Dublin.
Dublin, 71, is recovering from the potentially deadly “superbug” that is resistant to many antibiotics. MRSA is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a type of staph bacteria.
While Alexander may be a MRSA statistic, the Centers for Disease Control said that MRSA, which can cause life-threatening bloodstream infection in patients in medical facilities, is on the decline across the nation.
“Invasive MRSA infections that began in hospitals declined 54 percent between 2005 and 2011, with 30,800 fewer severe MRSA infections. In addition, the study showed 9,000 fewer deaths in hospital patients in 2005 versus 2011,” according to information on the CDC website.
Vivian Dublin, Alexander’s wife, said her husband underwent the knee surgery at Conroe Regional Medical Center Nov. 11.
“He was supposed to stay there three days and then go to the nursing home for rehab,” she said. “He caught staph under that knee. They couldn’t get his fever down.”
When Alexander was admitted to the nursing home, Dublin said several family members inquired about the infection Alexander had; that is when they learned he had MRSA.
Dublin said before his surgery, her husband underwent several tests and had no other health problems, infections or viruses.
“He was clear of everything,” she said.
Dublin said her family has used CRMC in the past and never had any problems with care from the staff members or issues with staph infections. She said Alexander was improving and hoped he would be home by the end of the year.
Jennifer L. Nichols-Contella, PIO for the Montgomery County Hospital District & Public Health District, said officials with the Health District have not had any reports of MRSA at any area hospitals.
Taking precautions
In May, Tennessee-based HCA released information that it was implementing universal decolonization in its adult intensive care units at its affiliated hospitals, including CRMC. The decision came following a study called the Randomized Evaluation of Decolonization Versus Universal Clearance to Eliminate (REDUCE) MRSA, that determined that using antimicrobial soap and ointment to decolonize all intensive care unit patients reduces all bloodstream infections, including MRSA, by 44 percent.
“The REDUCE MRSA study proved that universal decolonization is the best practice to prevent infection from MRSA and other dangerous bacteria in high-risk ICU patients,” said Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, president, Clinical and Physician Services Group and chief medical officer of HCA. “These compelling results convinced us to implement this protocol in HCA hospital adult ICUs. Universal decolonization should be a new part of a comprehensive infection prevention effort that begins with hand hygiene and includes a number of proven practices.”
According to Lindsay Duncan, spokesperson for CRMC, in addition to universal decolonization in the hospital’s ICU, the hospital staff screens patients who are undergoing certain surgeries, such as total hip and knee replacements, spine surgeries and heart surgeries in order to help prevent post-operative MRSA infections. Conroe Regional Medical Center’s MRSA rates are within the CDC’s expected ratios for MRSA, she said.
Duncan said the Joint Commission recognized Conroe Regional Medical Center as a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures the past two years.
Officials with the Memorial Hermann Health System said its hand hygiene program has been successful for its several locations, including Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital.
“Hand hygiene is crucial to preventing infection,” said Dr. M. Michael Shabot, chief medical offer of Memorial Hermann Health System. “Success with the hand hygiene program we implemented system-wide several years ago has been instrumental in helping to avert MRSA outbreaks.
“Fortunately, we haven’t had any at our hospitals in recent years.”
St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital could not be reached for comment.
Source: yourhoustonnews.com