'Super Bug' Hits LA County

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A deadly drug-resistant bacteria is spreading to more patients in nursing and long-term care facilities in Los Angeles County, according to local health officials.

Why do we have to look so hard for news that may affect all of us? Anyway, I find it odd that this infection manages to be found in nursing homes.

link to story

This looks very grim as there is not an antibiotic available to target the bacteria.
They may need to look at ways to avoid further spread of the Super Bug.

Now that is frightening! I wonder if this particular bacteria is found anywhere else in the U.S.? What I find so strange is the fact it is showing up in a nursing home. Coincidence or not? Could this have something to do with compromised immune systems in some elderly patients?

reminds me of bacteria that killed a boy in the gulf from entering a cut while walking on the beach.. fully resistance to any meds.... it was part of the top kill process that created immortal bacteria with resistance to anything.....

i really wish i saved sources to show but research it here on ATS this is where i found it all originally

just interesting things are showing up in areas near the ocean .....hmmmmmmm.......

hope i am just connecting dots that don't make sense

The pathogen that they are talking about here is CRKP, short for Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. This is an enterobacteria, also called a gram-negative bacteria. It is primarily found in the nursing home population and not in the community at large. Hospitals have also been reporting some cases of CRKP, usually after the nursing home patients are transferred into the hospital and bring the CRKP with them.

Generally, different nursing homes around the country tend to have their own specific infectious organisms, but these same organisms are usually confined to the nursing home environment and are not found in the outside surrounding community. And different areas tend to have different bugs. What is rampant in Los Angeles area nursing homes can be drastically different from what is running rampant in other parts of the country.

If my memory serves me correctly, CRKP first started being reported in the late 1990s in areas out toward the East Coast. Specifically, I know that New Jersey was one of the places because I was working with an infectious disease specialist in New Jersey at the time, and I believe that New York was another one of the hot spots for CRKP.

Drug resistant staph maybe? Just guessing but that's what it sounds like anyways. That is a nasty bugger there have been people who have had to get limbs amputated from that stuff.

This thing could definately be dangerous to individuals with a compromised immune system. If its resistant to that extent than I hope these people can be saved. Looks like this thing loves hospitals as much as staph aureus does:

Klebsiella pneumoniae

Klebsiella Pneumoniae: Infections

Klebsiella pneumoniae, the name itself suggests that it is a strain of Klebsiella that causes pneumonia in humans. It can also cause UTI and abdominal infections. In fact, it is the second pathogen, next to E. coli that causes UTI. It normally affects persons with low immune system such as hospital patients, diabetes patients and people with chronic lung disease. Many a times, alcoholics also suffer from K. pneumoniae infections. Thus, the infections are either hospital-acquired or community-acquired.

It is difficult for K. pneumoniae to infect lungs of healthy persons. However, it produces a highly lethal pneumonia in those people who have been hospitalized, typically after two days of hospitalization and is therefore commonly known as hospital-acquired pneumonia. It causes a serious, rapid-onset illness that can result in destruction of the lungs. The most common symptom of this type of pneumonia is cough with sputum secretion. The patient may also suffer from chills, chest pain, high fever, shortness of breath and flu-like symptoms. In severe cases, it may cause lung destruction and formation of lung abscesses (pockets of pus). Pus may also be present in tissues surrounding the lung known as empyema, which can lead to formation of scar tissue. Mortality rate of this pneumonia is more than regular pneumonia due to the underlying diseases of the affected persons.

Klebsiella Pneumoniae

reply to post by SNeaKyTiKi


See that makes sense since some drugs given can cause Hyperammonemia or however it's spelled. Causing in increase of amonia in the blood, and if I am not mistaken can cause severe lung infections rapidly leading to death. Not a doctor or anything but that's what makes sense to me.

Here's a link to that effect: chestjournal.chestpubs.org...

reply to post by Golithion


Yes, CRKP is a different pathogen, but very similar in situation to MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus). The reason that MRSA is so bad is because it is resistant to methicillin (antibiotic). Same type of situation with CRKP which is resistant to carbapenem. Carbapenem is the antibiotic which is usually used as the last line of defense against Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Of course the big fear with organisms like CRKP and MRSA is that instead of being confined to nursing homes and long-term care facilities, they will begin to spread out to infect the community at large.

Originally posted by Golithion
reply to post by SNeaKyTiKi

 

See that makes sense since some drugs given can cause Hyperammonemia or however it's spelled. Causing in increase of amonia in the blood, and if I am not mistaken can cause severe lung infections rapidly leading to death. Not a doctor or anything but that's what makes sense to me.

Here's a link to that effect: chestjournal.chestpubs.org...

edit on 3/25/1111 by Golithion because: (no reason given)

lol I'm still in school so I do not know much about this. I do know that your body gets rid of this stuff (ammonia-NH3) through your kidneys and then your bladder. It will even sometimes sweat it out. Ever notice yellow armpits on your undershirts? At least thats what I've been taught, if I'm wrong please correct me. Worst case scenario and usually with major kidney problems and the abuse of some drug or substance, the only way your body can get rid of this is through your lungs. You breath it out. If you know somebody with a chemical smell on their breath and they are not diabetic or in Ketosis than they have a problem. If you are breathing this out and you have kidney issues than yes you will get a fluid buildup in your lungs. To be honest I do not know if this will cause an infection, it will cause some major issues but more fluid and this environment should make certain bacteria happy. We do it all the time in cell cultures and petri dishes....

Anybody who knows pathogenic microbiology really well,is a nurse, immunologist, PA or is an MD care to comment?

reply to post by JohnD


For those of you who aren't in the know about me, I work in a hotel as a night auditor, last week we had 4 different families here, all of them here because a nursing home contacted the families of residents of that home. They were all told that the nursing home was under quarintine. They were told that their family member was gravely ill and was being transferred to a local intensive care unit. All four passed away in 2 days. As one of the families departed the hotel, the Dad of the family was very loudly making statements that he was going to find out what the hell happend to his aunt, she was fine last week. He is a regular customer here at the hotel because he comes around all the time to see his aunt. I didn't mention to any of the families that there were others here with the same ordeal going on, all from the same nursing home. I thought all that was weird enough, now I want to know what it is, what does it do????

reply to post by SNeaKyTiKi


Well I do know that the liver usually takes care of ammonia in the body, but according to the article I posted, in cases like that it can result in a whole host of badness, like seizures edema, and lung issues. Just trying to point out that people taking certain drugs can be susceptible to infection, hence the spread in hospitals or other places. But what do I know just a man trying to understand the situation.

Super bugs are weak!

Go natural, and splurge for some essential oils to wipe out the infection.

Not sure which one will work best for this particular strain, but I recommend trying oregano, peppermint, or thyme oil before tripping out.

Originally posted by Golithion
reply to post by SNeaKyTiKi

 

Well I do know that the liver usually takes care of ammonia in the body, but according to the article I posted, in cases like that it can result in a whole host of badness, like seizures edema, and lung issues. Just trying to point out that people taking certain drugs can be susceptible to infection, hence the spread in hospitals or other places. But what do I know just a man trying to understand the situation.

Yeah your right the liver starts the process by converting it into Urea or whatever its called whic h is sent to the kidneys and sweat glands. lol I'm trying to read it too. It seems that when hospitals load you up on antibiotics the "good" bacteria" get the crap killed out of them and this thing like Staph decides to take over the empty space. Just pray its not a strain that has already adapted to the standard treatments.

The OP seems to suggest, if not just in forum placement, that this super-bug is some sort of conspiracy germ warfare. This is always a possibility given the sick nature of TPTB but, much like MRSA, most "super-bugs" are created by our over use of antibiotics and antibacterial soap and bugs modifying themselves based on that. Not something to scoff at but something to consider the next time you insist on antibiotics when they may not be necessary.

I found it interesting that this 'Superbug' only affects people who are old or sick, according to Dr. Richard Besser, "This doesn't go to healthy people." Isn't it convenient to kill off the elderly and sick because Social Security and Medicare can't support the growing need for medical attention and elder support? Just my thought. Here's the video I'm quoting.

www.comcast.net...