Apr 9, 2009 5:13 pm US/Eastern
Beth Israel Cited For Infection Control Problems
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has been cited by the state Department of Public Health for having serious problems with infection control.
DPH came to the hospital last month, after the BI reported finding 37 cases of patients infected with MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) between November 2008 and this week.
Read: MRSA fact sheet (.pdf)
19 newborns and 18 mothers were infected. Everyone has recovered, according to DPH.
When state health officials went to the hospital to investigate the MRSA cluster, they found "problems with organizational policies, training, and infection control practices."
DPH and the BI still don't know where the MRSA bacteria came from, but investigators say the issues with the infection control polices were not the source of the infection.
In his blog, "
Running a Hospital" Beth Israel President and CEO Paul Levy wrote Thursday:
"We have determined the bacteria to be the most common type of "community-associated" MRSA, meaning that the origin of the bacteria is most likely outside BIDMC. Despite extensive investigation, we have been unable to determine how it has spread."
"(We) are putting together what is called a Plan of Correction to show how we will correct any and all deficiencies that were identified."
That plan is expected to be submitted by Monday. The hospital will also be required to under go a full hospital survey every year.
MRSA is a kind of bacteria, often referred to as "staph," which is resistant to some kinds of antibiotics.
People who are infected with MRSA are often said to have a "staph infection," according to DPH.
Many patient advocacy groups such as Health Care For All have been lobbying for legislation and policies that would help protect patients from these types of hospital-based infections.
"Your loved one goes to hospital to get better, but if you get infection you end up staying longer than you planned," said Deb Wachenheim with Health Care For all. "Hospitals need to continue to put in known steps that prevent infections from happening in the first place."
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