Beware the Superbug
The Story
An antibiotic-resistant superbug has killed two patients and sickened 15 others at Carolinas HealthCare hospitals.
State studying CRE Superbug response http://t.co/t3f9ff1b2u pic.twitter.com/jV5ChlMxFS
— NBC Charlotte (@wcnc) February 23, 2015
The Facts
– Known as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or CRE
– Targets the very sick, such as those in long-term care facilities or those on ventilators and urinary catheters
Family says CRE Superbug killed their loved one from Gaston County: http://t.co/GmDzByL1Q7 pic.twitter.com/lnOyZ4WHIH
— NBC Charlotte (@wcnc) February 23, 2015
– Very hard to treat — some strains kill half of those infected
– Hospital precautions include dedicated nursing staff for these patients; thorough cleaning of rooms; isolating the patient.
Hospital system steps up efforts against ‘superbug’ after 2 deaths in Charlotte area http://t.co/ZvewEhN5OI pic.twitter.com/HYclHossiX
— newsobserver.com (@newsobserver) February 23, 2015
– Endoscopes targeted as a cause; new disinfecting measures are in place.
Latest ‘superbug’ outbreak raises questions about specialized endoscopes http://t.co/hWVgwtGMpi pic.twitter.com/jWbFB7fTfq
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 20, 2015
Not just in the Carolinas
Los Angeles hospital warns 179 patients possibly exposed to ‘superbug’ http://t.co/Cx6SrWrV2G
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) February 20, 2015
Two deaths in North Carolina blamed on same drug-resistant superbug that killed two at LA hospital http://t.co/826C58vY4P
— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 23, 2015
Photos: Melissa Brower / AP
This story was originally published February 24, 2015 at 12:44 AM with the headline "Beware the Superbug."