Video conference on pandemic right now

oramar · Aug 28, 2009

I'm watching a video conference on Novel H1N1 influenza now. You can participate if you have the time.
Online Streaming

So glad I heard what I heard but sorry to say I missed first 20 min. I was really curious to see what they are recommending as far as pregnant nurses. I am wondering if anyone asked that question. Thanks a bunch.

oramar · Aug 29, 2009

I got a chance to watch it all the way through. As good as it was it is unfortunate they did not talk about pregnant nurses and flu because I think that will become a big issue in the near future. One of the nurses sounded so much like Indigo Girl I was wondering if it was her. I guess they just quote from the same sources. Proud to say that most of the info was not new to me. That being because Indigo does such a good job of keeping us up to date on the latest flu news.

indigo girl · Aug 29, 2009

Thanks for the kind words, oramar. No, I have not been making any videos on the side...

I have not watched this video yet, and probably won't until after my 3 twelve hour shifts are completed. Then I can hear what they did and did not say, and comment.

oramar · Aug 29, 2009

One other thing, I totally agree with the idea that flu victims should be placed in negative pressure rooms. The reason for that is that like the people in the conference said, "we don't want the hospital to become the place where people get the flu." However, we all know there isn't enough neg pressure rooms in the world let alone the US for all the people we are going to be admitted in the next few months. Matter of fact even putting them in private rooms is going to be a problem. Let me know anything else you see that jumps out at you. I wonder will it be OK to put to flu victims together?

indigo girl · Aug 29, 2009

One other thing, I totally agree with the idea that flu victims should be placed in negative pressure rooms. The reason for that is that like the people in the conference said, "we don't want the hospital to become the place where people get the flu." However, we all know there isn't enough neg pressure rooms in the world let alone the US for all the people we are going to be admitted in the next few months. Matter of fact even putting them in private rooms is going to be a problem. Let me know anything else you see that jumps out at you. I wonder will it be OK to put to flu victims together?

Inevitably, it will be. Not every unit has those rooms or can even isolate sick patients effectively.

If my floor (psych) is anything to go by, patients and staff can catch viruses in the hospital rather easily. Once an infected patient or staff member is present, you are not likely to stop that transmission in certain settings especially if what is happening is not recognized quickly. Using fever as a guideline to become concerned is not going to be very helpful. Keep in mind that many infected and confirmed cases of H1N1 are not febrile, (30% in Mexico, and 50% in Chile).

Many psych patients are medically fragile such as anorexics. We had to transfer such a case to the ICU. She was febrile. She recovered, thankfully as did all staff and other patients. We still do not know what the virus was that hit us. No testing was ever done. It all happened so fast. Hopefully, if this was H1N1, many of the staff are now immune.

I fully expect other cases to slip in undetected as patients come in from ED and other floors. Our index case of whatever this was, came to us from a medical floor.

Our hospital entrances now have signs as do the elevators, about not visiiting when sore throat, fever, etc are present. No one is monitoring for any of this, however.

oramar · Aug 29, 2009

Inevitably, it will be. Not every unit has those rooms or can even isolate sick patients effectively.
If my floor (psych) is anything to go by, patients and staff can catch viruses in the hospital rather easily. Once an infected patient or staff member is present, you are not likely to stop that transmission in certain settings especially if what is happening is not recognized quickly. Using fever as a guideline to become concerned is not going to be very helpful. Keep in mind that many infected and confirmed cases of H1N1 are not febrile, (30% in Mexico, and 50% in Chile).
Many psych patients are medically fragile such as anorexics. We had to transfer such a case to the ICU. She was febrile. She recovered, thankfully as did all staff and other patients. We still do not know what the virus was that hit us. No testing was ever done. It all happened so fast. Hopefully, if this was H1N1, many of the staff are now immune.
I fully expect other cases to slip in undetected as patients come in from ED and other floors. Our index case of whatever this was, came to us from a medical floor.
Our hospital entrances now have signs as do the elevators, about not visiiting when sore throat, fever, etc are present. No one is monitoring for any of this, however.

You know Indigo, I worked through many flu outbreaks over the years including the 1968 Hong Kong epidemic(that one was BAD, probably the last time it was as bad as it is going to get this year"). We never isolated until about 2002 or so, that was the first time I saw a flu case in isolation. I think up until then getting it was considered inevitable so the attitude was "why bother". Here are some of the differences between then and now. Up until 20 years ago you were either fairly healthy or you were dead. There is a large population of people out there that are living with life threatening illnesses due to modern medicine. Another reason is that people turn to ligation at the drop of a hat, if they think there family member got it in a hospital and suffered ill effects or dies they will get a lawyer.

Kringe38 · Aug 31, 2009

Keep in mind that many infected and confirmed cases of H1N1 are not febrile, (30% in Mexico, and 50% in Chile).

I didn't know that. I always learn something when I come here.