I see that the CDC has changed the Case Count reporting. They are now tracking the Non=Meningitis infections like epidural abscess separate from joint infections.
As of yesterday, 510 total patients with confirmed or probable infection. 360 with meningitis, and 128 with paraspinal or spinal infection alone without meningitis. There are 14 patients with peripheral joint infection and there are now 36 deaths!!! This appears to indicate an alarming progression of the paraspinal infections, although it may simply reflect the fact that more attention is now being directed toward this site of infection.
Once again, if this area had been addressed earlier in the outbreak, progressive disease might have been averted at least in a few people. Failing to address the presence of fungal colonization of the peri-epidural tissues may lead to more disease progressinon and even needless deaths.
The diagnostic tests are not precise as anyone would like, but failure to perform basic diagnostic tests, in my opinion, constitutes gross negligence! And for any doctors who are reading this post, follow the guidance from CDC AND the ones I have posted and your patients will do as well as possible under these trying circumstances. Your patient will be satisfied that you did your best. And a satisfied patient is the least likely to mount a lawsuit.
http://www.cdc.gov/hai/
The diagnostic tests are not precise as anyone would like, but failure to perform basic diagnostic tests, in my opinion, constitutes gross negligence! And for any doctors who are reading this post, follow the guidance from CDC AND the ones I have posted and your patients will do as well as possible under these trying circumstances. Your patient will be satisfied that you did your best. And a satisfied patient is the least likely to mount a lawsuit.
http://www.cdc.gov/hai/
www.cdc.gov
This CDC page provides a map of the U.S. with th...