"Houston we have a problem" This just got very real

[Esme12]

And so it begins....

A health care worker who treated Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person in the U.S. diagnosed with Ebola who later died, has preliminarily tested positive for the deadly virus, the Texas Department of State Health Services said in a statement today.

The health care worker at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital has been isolated since reporting a low-grade fever Friday, the department said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will conduct further testing to confirm the diagnosis.

"We knew a second case could be a reality, and we've been preparing for this possibility," Dr. David Lakey, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services said in the statement. "We are broadening our team in Dallas and working with extreme diligence to prevent further spread."

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/texas-health-care-worker-tests-positive-ebola/story?id=26135108

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

Esme, here is the CDC's response to that question about hazmat suits:

Why do responders in Africa wear so much personal protective equipment (that can include full body suits) for this Ebola outbreak when CDC says hospitals here could safely manage the care of an Ebola patient without a full body suit?

There are important differences between providing care or performing public health tasks in Africa versus in a U.S. hospital.

In field medical settings, additional PPE may be necessary to protect healthcare workers. In some places in Africa, workers may not have the ability to prepare for potential exposures. For example, in some places, care may be provided in clinics with limited resources (e.g., no running water, no climate control, no floors, inadequate medical supplies), and workers could be in those areas for several hours with a number of Ebola infected patients. Additionally, certain job responsibilities and tasks, such as attending to dead bodies, may also require different PPE than what is used when providing care for infected patients in a hospital.

Source: Safe Management of Patients with Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in U.S. Hospitals | Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever | CDC

********! That is just an excuse to leave us unprotected with cheap flimsy gowns and masks rather than the real deal expensive hazmat suits and respirators we should be wearing! I want this jerk to come and take care of an Ebola patient in this flimsy outfit! No way in hell would he walk near the patient let alone go in so unprotected! Apparently American healthcare workers are expendable and no need to expect the hospitals to spend the money to provide us with safe equipment! He should be ashamed of himself! Why doesn't he do us a favor and just resign already!

[sissiesmama, ASN, RN]

They threw the nurse under the bus to make the masses feel better. She (the nurse) screwed up with PPE and that is why she got it. I am not in danger.

This!!

[bearscrubs75]

Fellow Nurses, how is this virus managed in a health care setting? Is it droplets or airborne precautions? Airborne would be dried particulate that escapes the nares or mouth and travels through the air, landing on another person and/or inhaled into their body, correct? Would it make sense to treat Ebola patients as if they had TB, given the high rate of infectiousness of the disease?

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

I have not read anywhere where it says exactly what protective garmets this poor nurse was given to take care of the patient in the ICU in Texas . can you please enlightened us with the information that you have? thank you.

I've read several articles on CNN and yahoo that mention a gown and gloves, no hazmat suit, no respirator! Apparently the CDC doesn't want to bother the hospitals or govt to pay for hazmat suits and respirators and are making an excuse that here in America all we need is a flimsy gown and mask. That is a bald face lie!

[bearscrubs75]

That is just an excuse to leave us unprotected with cheap flimsy gowns and masks rather than the real deal expensive hazmat suits and respirators we should be wearing! I want this jerk to come and take care of an Ebola patient in this flimsy outfit! Know way in hell would he walk near the patient let alone go in so unprotected! Apparently American healthcare workers are expendable and no need to expect the hospitals to spend the money to provide us with safe equipment! He should be ashamed of himself! Why doesn't he do us a favor and just resign already!

-- Girl, let me tell you something. If I had to take care of an Ebola patient, I would DO IT and do it well. I'm not afraid of Contagion type viruses (when it's my time, it's my time). However, I would demand the Hazmat suit and pricey respirator mask. And then I would demand a decontamination bay after cares were completed. You're totally right, they don't want to pay for the expensive, life-protecting equipment. They'd rather subject medical staff to a deadly infection than spend money on proper PPE.

[bearscrubs75]

Girl, probably a cheap mask and gown. You know those tight asses ain't ready to fork over the thousands of dollars necessary to pay for the expensive Hazmat suits and sealed respirators.

[Brendan1]

This is what I am thinking too.

This is what I was referring to

[Brendan1]

She must not have followed protocol for the removal of PPE. That's all I can think of. Or, we don't know the full story on how it's transmitted.

This is what I was referring to

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

I just can't get over the CDC saying all we need in America is gown, mask and goggles, yet every one else including Emory & Nebraska are using hazmat suits and respirators! This is just insane and wrong!

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

Workers that deal with Ebola in the lab wear Hazmat suits. Yet, a nurse who may be exposed to the bodily fluids of an Ebola patient is expected to get by with a paper mask, gown and plastic face shield. This is ridiculous.

FWIW, Ebola has a biosafety level of 4. Aids has a level of 2. Just thought I'd mention that since the media loves to compare the two.

And viruses can mutate.

I live in one of the five cities with the biggest Liberian population-you'd think that the hospital would be providing inservices. But, our communication is terrible on any given day. This is not confidence inspiring.

[bearscrubs75]

Here's a scenario for all of you: You work at a large urban hospital, let's say CCC/ICU day shift. You come on and get your report for the day. One of your patients discharges to a step-down unit at 10:00 am. Suddenly, the charge nurse approaches you and tells you, I need to place a patient with Ebola like symptoms in the room occupied by the former patient and I need you to take care of him. The patient has recently flown to your city from Liberia. He's a 55 year old African male, married, in apparent respiratory distress, temp = 103.5 and climbing, vomiting, diarrhea, low sodium, low K, dehydrated, etc. All you are offered for PPE are the flimsy yellow gowns, N95 gowns, latex gloves. You complain to you charge nurse about lack of proper PPE and the nurse dismisses you and states you have no choice, you HAVE to take this patient. How many of you would say, "**** this" and walk off the floor, realizing you've probably lost your job?

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

We don't stock impermeable gowns. We have the yellow paper ones because they're cheaper.

Limited face shields.

Noncompliant staff.

We're toast.

People are already coming up to the OR and swiping masks by the handful..also have noticed a shortage of our impervious paper surgical gowns. Hmmmm...