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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSpanish nurse reported in as soon as her temp rose; they sent her away. The threshold is TOO HIGH
For the 2nd time in a week, a potentially exposed person reported in with mild symptoms and was sent on their way. For the 2nd time, that person was left to walk around for days potentially infecting others."She had alerted them to a slight fever on 30 September, said Antonio Alemany from the regional government of Madrid, and checked into a hospital in Alcorcón with a high fever on Sunday. Ebola protocol was immediately activated at the hospital and initial and secondary tests were both positive for the virus."
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/06/nurse-spain-tests-positive-ebola
The problem is with the fucking criteria. The temperature threshold is 101.5F -- and it is too effing high.
Duncan's was only 100.1 when the ED doctor followed the criteria and sent him home.
How many symptomatic people are they going to let loose before they figure out that the problem is the guidelines?!?!
elleng
(131,197 posts)haikugal
(6,476 posts)Agschmid
(28,749 posts)both of these folks should have been considered high risk. These are both pretty significant failures IMO.
magical thyme
(14,881 posts)below that, docs and an infected nurse, are told not to worry yet, even with known Ebola exposure.
RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)It's like they are too busy, or something?
Poor lady. The system has failed her.
Who is next?
eShirl
(18,505 posts)grasswire
(50,130 posts)Health authorities on Monday said that health professionals treating Ebola patients in Spain always followed protocols outlined by the World Health Organisation. The nurse would have entered García Viejos room just twice, said Alemany, and would have been wearing protective equipment on both occasions. We dont know yet what failed, said Alemany. Were investigating the mechanism of infection.
magical thyme
(14,881 posts)I've been increasingly careless over the years.
I cannot believe how many times in one day I found myself unconsciously starting to adjust my glasses or reaching to scratch an itch.
And as soon as you remind yourself keep your hands away from your face, your eyes and nose start itching nonstop.
Barack_America
(28,876 posts)magical thyme
(14,881 posts)Duncan's was only 100.1 when he first reported to the ED.
The CDC's criteria say 1. travel to Liberia and 2. temp of 101.5F or higher and 3. one other
Following the 101.5F threshold has now turned 2 infected people loose within a week, delaying their treatment and potentially infecting others.
The criteria are not working.
ecstatic
(32,746 posts)what else are they wrong about? The guidelines are outdated. Period.
magical thyme
(14,881 posts)the threshold is too high.
They've made for a couple dozen 1-2 day false alarms with neg tests, but they've released 2 infected people.
Ex Lurker
(3,816 posts)body temperature fluctuates throughout the day. According to WebMD, the cutoff point for a fever is 100.4.
pnwmom
(109,009 posts)pnwmom
(109,009 posts)Lots of serious illnesses begin with a lower fever that then rises. This is probably the case with Ebola, too.
magical thyme
(14,881 posts)Because neither of the first 2 cases diagnosed outside of Africa met the threshold criteria.
Or any even slight temperature elevation of exposed patients should at least lead to temporary isolation and evaluation. Jeebus, we have totally non-sick people in our ED all the time, and even do extensive testing if they keep coming back, up to and including a recent spinal tap/CSF for somebody with normal CBC and CMP because of a headache and fever. But we won't isolate and monitor a potential Ebola case?!?!
"El Mundo reported that it was the nurse who asked to be tested for Ebola, having to insist repeatedly on being tested before it was done on Monday."
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/07/ebola-crisis-substandard-equipment-nurse-positive-spain
magical thyme
(14,881 posts)maybe.
But these are the only 2 positives diagnosed outside of Africa, and both were sent away because they didn't meet the threshold criteria.
The criteria isn't working.
LeftInTX
(25,607 posts)I understand the traditional 101.5 F thing, but yeah......
muriel_volestrangler
(101,390 posts)https://ca.news.yahoo.com/spanish-nurse-suspected-catching-ebola-hospital-patient-infected-173001840.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/07/world/europe/spain-reports-first-case-of-ebola-contracted-outside-west-africa.html?_r=0
The wording used everywhere never says she went into a hospital. It sounds like she phone or emailed, and told them she had a slight fever. She's a nurse; she knew she had helped treat 2 Ebola patients. It was her diagnosis.
IdaBriggs
(10,559 posts)People's bodies fight/react differently sometimes. My husband's body temperature runs "low" usually, so when he gets a fever of 99.5, for HIM that is high....