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Super bug kills dozens in hospitals across country
Meital Yasur-Beit Or
Published: 07.03.07, 09:53
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1. So there's more bacterium?
Talula ,   Israel   (03.07.07)
I thought the strongest antibiotic-resistant bacterium was Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. You learn something everyday!
2. K. pneumoniae
Daniel ,   Tel Aviv   (03.07.07)
K.pneumoniae is a very difficult organism considering that it protects itself with a mucoidal coating. The fact that a virulent strain has been spreading through hospitals in Israel is frightening. As a microbiologist, I am very aware that there can be difficulties in containing a resistant strain. It should be a wake up call to the entire medical community. Universal Precautions need to be the standard. Appropriate sterilization of instruments, and rooms needs to be carried out. By taking the proper precautions, containment is possible. The last thing Israel needs is a resistant strain of K. pneumoniae moving from nosocomial community into the general population. We have already seen the effects of this with MRSA.
3. it's the occupation, go back to 67 and be good with bug
rashid ,   palistine   (03.07.07)
4. Correlation
Pnina Moed-Kass ,   Herzliya, Israel   (03.07.07)
Has anyone noticed the timing and relationship between the virulent bacteria and the virulent political behavior? Irony can be sad. In both cases the patient (the average citizen) has a weakened immune system. The bacteria being spread by immoral politicians is resistant to ethics and law. I pay my taxes and I pay my Kupat Holim - I am entitled to live in a disease-free environment. Until this outbreak ends let's put all Knesset and cabinet members in an isolation ward.
5. Bacteria in hospitals
Jane ,   Czech Republic   (03.07.07)
Hmmm - less warfare, colonization and occupation and you will have more money on high - quality health care.
6. #3 If Israel "go back to 67" will it b "good with you bugs"?
David ,   Jerusalem   (03.07.07)
I doubt it. You bugs cause lots of deaths and infections. Even if Israel gives up the entire country, you bugs will still be around in the world. We have to get some good anti-bugotics to get rid of this problem in our midst.
7. Jane
charles ,   petach tikva   (03.07.07)
Just to inform you that Israel has one of the most advanced health care systems in the world , that's also the reason that life expectation is higher than the average . This has nothing to do with lack of funding , read the text if you understand what is written [ or better , if you want to understand ]
8. Health care
Reuven ,   Petach Tikvah.Israel   (03.07.07)
To Jane in the Czech Republic. # 5. Do I detect a touch of anti-Semitism? Just for your interest, we have one of the best healthcare systems anywhere in the world. With all our problems life expectancy in Israel is one of the highest in the world. Israel is rated 21st on the world listing of 225 countries. Higher than the U.S. or U.K. The Czech Republic is number 67 on that listing - you have a long way to go! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy
9. The Worst Place To Go If You Are Sick
Reuven Brauner ,   Raanana, Israel   (03.07.07)
is to the hospital.
10. TO jane #5 Free the Sudetenland!
freedom fighter   (03.07.07)
11. GOD's WRATH
frank ,   U S A   (03.07.07)
GOD's WRATH
12. Come on Frank
Edward ,   USA   (03.07.07)
Don't be an ignorant American.
13. #5 Bacteria on your brain Jane
Lina ,   USA   (03.07.07)
This bacteria is not specific to Israel. You will find it in your hospitals in the Czech Republic. As Daniel points out, Universal Precautions need to be followed, particularly by healthcare personnel ie. gowns, masks, surgical gloves and patients with infectious disease issues need to be isolated and contact precautions followed by staff and visitors. Hospital workers frequently work at multiple facilities and carry the bacteria with them. Some patients are discharged from hospitals without proper diagnosis or treatment and not all hospitals have staff trained to effectively manage infectious disease issues.
14. g-d's wrath
steve white ,   NY USA!!!   (03.07.07)
Rashid and Frank, Maybe it is G-D punishing us for our sins but is it not amazing how many arabs and Muslims in particular he wiped out this year?! certainly says something to me!
15. The Cure
Ray ,   Nashville   (03.07.07)
If you will let those infected go out and roll around in a pile of dirt.... it will cure them! I am not joking!! It will cure them!
16. #3 doesn't value human life
Mike ,   NYC USA   (03.07.07)
Nice logic there. Also, can you please explain to me why wealthy Arabs choose to go to the U.S. and Israel when they need a medical procedure?
17. K. pneumoniae
Green Baron ,   Maryland, USA   (03.07.07)
Daniel: Thank you for your comment. Because you are a microbiologist and are conversant with microbial resistance, I suggest that you read my article, "The Microbial 'Resistome'" in the Novermber 1, 2006 issue of Environmental Science & Technology, a publication of the American Chemical Society. It looks at microbial resistance to medicines with some depth. Best wishes.
18. Reuven
charles ,   petach tikva   (03.07.07)
So don't do it , go immediately to the cemetery . I prefer the hospital if needed , and leave healthy .
19. insanity of the political and pseudo religious
Dan ,   Tel Aviv   (03.07.07)
Ok the only persons on here for whom I have an iotoa of respect are Daniel above and Reuven. G-ds wrath...yeah that's it G-d causes lung cancer, hodgkins disease and ESBL K.Pneumoniae...oh he also causes floods earthquakes and suicide bombers all because he's angry with the world. Get a clue some things are nature, some are bad luck and some are medicine gone awry. Resistant organisms are a response to antibiotic abuse and poor medical practices. They are all over the the world. The USA has seen resistant K.pneumoniae as has most of Europe. Israeli health care is better than the many places in the world. This is just media frenzy on the order of looking for bacteria in a gym or bathroom...the world exists because bacteria are around. This just happens to be a very dangerous bug. The Israeli-Arab conflict, the American-Arab conflict, Prime Ministers, Presidents and Rabbis Priests and Immams have nothing to do with it. There is no blame in this just a need to solve it. But if blame were to be assigned, it would be doctors handing out antibiotics too eagerly.
20. rashid's comment
Lauren ,   New York USA   (03.07.07)
You are a moron. I wish there was an antibiotic to cure the world of nasty people such as yourself.
21. Reuven, leave Jane alone; she's a troll
AK   (03.07.07)
She is as much a Czech as Michael Steiner is. For all we know 'she' may be Steiner's new incarnation.
22. virus
Tim Osman   (03.07.07)
Next thing you know, they will be saying Iran caused the virus.
23. No. 5, Jane
NYC Girl   (03.07.07)
I'm sorry to have to say this, but you sound like a bloody fool. The problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospitals is one of the most serious medical issues facing a lot of countries besides Israel. It's a huge problem here in the States, so regardless of what your feelings are about the so-called occupation, it has nothing whatsoever to do with it. In fact, one of the most important measures that hospitals can take to try to control this problem is frequent hand-washing by hospital personnel and since soap is relatively cheap, it's not even an issue of spending the money.
24. @ Frank #5
Ben ,   Macon USA   (03.07.07)
About this time last year I was recovering from this infection which came on me in the 6th week of treatment for a staph infection both of which I contracted in a US nursing home in the middle of the Bible Belt. Your comment reflects the deepest ignorance and prejudice. Crawl back into the hole you came out of.
25. Is it the food?
James ,   Brainerd USA   (03.07.07)
Daniel your the man that would know. I just finished a report on GMO and biotechnology production, and one of my concerns was that Klebsiella pneumoniae would become a super bug. Klebsiella pneumoniae is the soil bacteria that produces herbicide resistant plants such as cotton and corn. Also in this development is an antibiotic strain. The intrusion cell needed to get the cells to accept eachother comes from Escherichia coli (e-coli). Bottom line is that the fears from GMO researchers is this result. Your thoughts??
26. Now the pali propaganda machine
Y ,   N   (03.07.07)
have reached the czech republic to. Damn the arafat-virus is really stubborn and have now infected jane. Hope you get well soon.
27. Tim
charles ,   petach tikva   (03.07.07)
You can't even read , it's not a virus , it's a bacteria . Not only are your ideas stupid , but you don't know there is a big difference between them . Go to school , and begin with the kindergarten , that maybe your IQ level
28. HOSPITALS CAN BECOME SEPSIS INCUBATORS.
Dr. Rick ,   USA   (03.07.07)
BACTERIA IS ALWAYS A PROBLEM, especially when doctors and personnel become lax in hospital and personal hygenic requirements. An on-going D-CON (decontamination) BLITZ is always required to stay ahead of the problem. This includes daily wiping down beds , floors walls doors, tables, dressers, sinks, toilets, aotoclaving of instruments immediately after use etc., fresh air and circulation, continual hand washing and the use of UV light for a start. Once these outbreaks get going they are often difficult to control. It is better to prevent them in the first place.
29. Holy anointing oil kills germs
Roger Christie ,   Hilo, Hawai'i   (03.07.07)
Aloha. Holy anointing oil made from the topical sacramental recipe of Exodus 30:23 with kaneh bosm (Cannabis) heals gangrene and might heal this virus, too. Mahalo. @@@
30. Informed Consent
jjburke ,   Blairstown, USA   (03.08.07)
The decision to keep the outbreak silent while new patients were chosing to be admitted to affected hospitals is a clear violation of ethics and public trust. The "fear of Panic" excuse is the excuse of a knave. What panic? What scientific basis was this decision made upon. Shame. Replace leadership involved. Trust informed patients to make good choices.
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