Sunday, November 6, 2011

Flu Can Be Fatal in Children With MRSA

A nationwide study has found that previously healthy children hospitalized with flu were significantly more likely to die if they were also infected with MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The findings are important because MRSA, a severe type of staph infection, is a growing concern among healthy children.

MRSA “used to be seen only in hospitalized people or people who worked in health care facilities,” said Dr. Michael Cappello, a professor of pediatric infectious disease at Yale. “This is no longer the case.”

The study looked only at the most severe cases of flu in the United States during the 2009-10 H1N1 outbreak, children so sick they had to be hospitalized in intensive care. About 4,000 children end up in pediatric intensive care units each year because of flu, a small percentage of the millions of children who get flu each year.

“When you think about the whole population, and that pretty much everyone got the flu, for most it was a very mild illness,” said Dr. Adrienne G. Randolph, the lead author of the study and an associate professor of anesthesia at Harvard. Still, she said, “there is a risk for death, and vaccination is still the most effective prevention strategy.”

The researchers had data on 838 boys and girls under 21 admitted to 35 pediatric intensive care units across the country. Almost three-quarters of the children had one or more chronic health conditions, including asthma, immunosuppression or neurological, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal illnesses. The rest had no health problems before their hospitalization.

The median age of the children was 6 years, and 75 of them, or almost 9 percent, died. Among the deaths were 18 of the 251 children who were previously healthy.

After controlling for other factors, researchers found that being female, having a pre-existing neurologic condition or being immune-compromised increased the risk of death. Flu infections of the brain or heart and co-infection with MRSA were also predictors of mortality for all children. Almost 9 percent of the children studied were infected with Staphylococcus.

But in healthy children, only MRSA infection predicted death, and their relative risk of death was eight times as high as that of the uninfected. Of the previously healthy children who died, six were infected with MRSA and two with the more common strain of staph, S. aureus. The findings appear Monday in the journal Pediatrics.

“There’s a nice message here about vaccines: that even otherwise healthy children are still at risk, and they are at risk of death,” said Dr. Lisa Saiman, a professor of clinical pediatrics at Columbia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the flu vaccine for everyone over the age of 6 months, and stresses that pregnant women, children younger than 2 and people over 50 are at especially high risk of having serious flu-related complications.

“These findings provide further support for the recent recommendations by the C.D.C. to immunize all eligible people,” she said.

“Resistant organisms like MRSA are created in part by overuse of antibiotics, and treating mild infections like the common cold with antibiotics is creating more resistant organisms,” Dr. Randolph, the study author, added. “The message,” she said, is “get your kids vaccinated, and stop using all these antibiotics.”

For more on the growing threat from MRSA in children, and how to identify it, see the recent Well post “More Children Hospitalized With Skin Infections.”

Detectives are investigating fatal stabbing near Watts

Homicide detectives are investigating a fatal stabbing that occurred in the 2400 block of East 115th Street in unincorporated L.A. County, between Watts and Lynwood, shortly after 7 p.m. Sunday.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, where a suspect was taken into custody, according to the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department. 

The names and ages of the suspect and victim have not been released.

ALSO:

Riverside police arrest 11 protesters

Irvine police say man stole 100 packages from homes

Health fair draws crowds in downtown Los Angeles

-- Alan Zarembo

 

Riverside police arrest 11 protesters

Riverside police arrested 11 “Occupy Riverside” protesters near City Hall on Sunday afternoon after several demonstrators allegedly refused to removed tents from the public plaza, authorities said.

The officers responded to the protest site at Main and 9th streets around 3 p.m. and ordered protesters to take down their tents, saying that erecting structures in the pedestrian plaza was not allowed.

“Normally we go out there and ask them to move the tents and they do so. Today they decided on civil disobedience and formed a human chain around the tents,” Riverside Police Lt. Chuck Griffitts said.

Griffitts said eight protesters were arrested on suspicion of resisting or delaying an officer and two on suspicion of assaulting an officer. One protester was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly throwing a full soda can at an officer. All were booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in downtown Riverside.

Through Twitter messages and video postings on You Tube, members of Occupy Riverside accused the officers of brutality and criticized law enforcement for arresting peaceful, unarmed protesters.

Occupy Riverside member Kathryn Stevenson, 35, said the police raid Sunday afternoon was unprovoked.

“It got pretty violent out there -- the cops were in riot gear,” said Stevenson, a teacher at Moreno Valley College.

Stevenson said that officers had been warning since Friday that they may break up the protest. She suspects that city leaders feared that the protest might disrupt the upcoming holiday light festival on the plaza and nearby Mission Inn.

-- Phil Willon

Five disabled people perish in Monterey County fire

Five disabled residents of a care facility in the Monterey County city of Marina died in a fire late Saturday night, authorities said Sunday.

The two caregivers escaped from the single-story house, said Lt. Rick Janicki, of the Marina Police Department.

They were treated for smoke inhalation, as were three police officers and a firefighter.

A sixth disabled resident of the Mt. Carmel Adult Residential Facility also got out, but remained hospitalized late Sunday afternoon, Janicki said.

The names, ages and genders of the victims will be released Monday, after relatives had been contacted, he said.

The cause of the blaze was still being investigated, with assistance from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Fire and Explosives, Janicki said.

John DiCarlo, a retired sheriff’s deputy who lives down the street, said he heard the sirens just before midnight Saturday and came out to see what was going on.

“When I got there, the house was totally engulfed in flames,” DiCarlo said.

Firefighters were already on the scene. DiCarlo took a short video, but the “fire was so intense you couldn’t get that close,” he said.

It took at least 45 minutes to bring the fire under control.

Four of the deceased were found that night, while a fifth body was discovered in the debris on Sunday morning, Janicki said.

--Anna Gorman and Alan Zarembo 

Man stole more than 100 packages from homes, police say

Irvine police spent hours last weekend sorting through more than 100 packages found in a suspected thief's home and car, police said.

Tien Kim Vu, 27 of Santa Ana was arrested Oct. 27, according to a news release from Irvine police.

Police assert that Vu burglarized more than 20 North Irvine area homes.

On Oct. 27, an officer assigned to the area discovered a vehicle matching the description of the suspect's car. It had stolen plates and was filled with packages believed to be stolen from homes in the area, according to police.

Reader photos: Southern California Moments Day 310

Click through for more photos of Southern California MomentsAfter all these years: Mehdi Bouqua finds inspiration in a man who claims to be 104 years old in downtown L.A. on Oct. 30.  

Every day of 2011, we're featuring reader-submitted photos of Southern California Moments. Follow us on Twitter and visit the Southern California Moments homepage for more on this series.

Diabetes-themed health fair draws crowds in downtown L.A.

A few thousand people were expected at a health fair Sunday at La Placita Olvera in downtown Los Angeles, where attendees were offered diabetes education and free medical screenings.

The American Diabetes Assn.'s annual "Feria de Salud" (or health fair), scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., was designed to raise awareness about the disease in the Latino community, organizers said.

Visitors could get their blood and glucose levels screened as well as flu shots and other preventive services. Cooking demonstrations and fitness workshops were also offered.

"It's all about heightened awareness and education," said Mary Hewitt, spokeswoman for the association.

The rain kept the turnout down early in the morning, but the crowd had picked up by midday, organizers said.

ALSO:

Bicyclist dies after striking guardrail in Malibu

Man shot thousands of 'upskirt' photos, police say

Santa Ana man convicted of killing 9-month-old baby

-- Anna Gorman

Protesters rally to save Newport Fun Zone amusement park

The Balboa Fun Zone was alive Saturday with high school students — and a few adults — rallying to save the area's charm.

More than 50 students, mostly from Corona del Mar High School, waved protest signs and collected signatures on a petition to preserve the Balboa Fun Zone as the open house for the upcoming ocean-themed educational and entertainment center ExplorOcean — which is slated to replace a portion of the Fun Zone — went on.

"I think it's a cool attraction, but this isn't the place for it," junior Courtney Brown, 16, who organized the rally told the Daly Pilot. "We don't want new and shiny. It will take away the charm."

If your pet is scared of fireworks night, use real medicine, not herbs or homeopathy


Fireworks: may not respond well to homeopathic treatment

Fireworks: may not respond well to homeopathic treatment


Fireworks night may be fun for humans, but it can be hell for pets. The combination of animals’ ultra-sensitive hearing with a lack of comprehension about “what the heck is causing that noise” results in many pets panicking when they hear the bangs, shrieks and whines of fireworks.


The Association of Pet Dog Trainers UK, have put together a useful list of suggested tips to help keep anxious dogs – and other pets – calm while there are fireworks displays going on outside. Tip number eight caught my attention this year:


If you have a particularly anxious pet, you should speak to your vet about treatments that can help.  Both traditional and homeopathic remedies such as Flower Essences and other natural products are available, and have been found to be very useful in many cases. It is important that you discuss any treatments with your vet before using them.


This contrasts with part of the comprehensive policy statement about fireworks phobias on the website of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association:


Given that an evidence base exists for conventional drugs and behavioural therapies, a clinician should not prescribe an unproven alternative that directly or indirectly results in the worsening of a behavioural problem. There is no peer-reviewed evidence for the efficacy of herbal or homeopathic drugs, or food supplements in the management or treatment of noise phobias. They should not be considered to be suitable for the treatment of noise fears and phobias.


So who is right here? The non-evidence-based lay people, or the evidence-based vets?


This debate is given added significance in 2011 because of a new product that has been launched in recent months. Calmex is a tablet that contains, among other ingredients, a psychoactive plant extract called Piper Methysticum, known more commonly as Kava Kava which has caused serious liver damage in people.


The precise toxicology mechanism is not understood, so the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) recommended a ban on the substance for humans (because it was not possible to give advice on how to use it safely, or who might be at risk from using it). The ban was issued in 2002, and renewed a few years later.


How can such an ingredient find its way into treatments for pets when it is banned for humans in the UK?   The manufacturers claim that since Piper methysticum (Kava kava) is listed on page 178 of Annex I of the EU Register of Feed Additives, Calmex is classified as a "Complementary Feed" in accordance with EU regulation 767/2009 and does not require a Marketing Authorisation. Essentially, it cannot be classed as a medicinal product.


However, the situation is still far from clear. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate, which has the final say over whether something is a medicinal product or not, issued the following statement today: "This product does not have a marketing authorisation as a veterinary medicinal product and we’re aware of concerns over its use and are investigating. People should only use authorised veterinary medicines and the VMD aims to ensure that all vet medical products are safe to use."


When asked for clarification, the European Food Standards Agency, which produces the EC  directives that the manufacturer of Calmex refers to, gave the following provisional statement: “Piper methysticum is indeed an authorised feed additive. However, the intended use as feed additive is 'flavouring' and this I would deny for the product at stake. Consequently, it is up to the UK authorities to decide whether it is a (unauthorised) veterinary medicine. Against the background of Art 13 of Reg 767/2009 there are several claims on the flyer that could be challenged.”


My advice? If your pet is frightened of fireworks, stick to the safe, evidence-based answers.



Light snow brightens opening at local ski resort

A couple of inches of snow have fallen in Wrightwood, making for nice conditions for today's official opening of the ski season at the Mountain High resort.

"It has been snowing all day," said Kathy Cornell, who works in guest services at Mountain High. "We are busy and people are having a blast."

Snow Summit and Bear Mountain in Big Bear Lake also received several inches of fresh powder but have yet to open. The operated resorts, which plan to open later this week, report that four to six inches fell Friday and that snow began to fall again this morning.

"It is a really great opening because we are able to get a lot of natural snow and also do snowmaking," said Sarah Segovia, who is in guest services at Snow Summit and Bear Mountain.

ALSO:

Los Angeles weather: A rainy, chilly Sunday

Bicyclist dies after striking guardrail in Malibu

Drunk driver blamed for crash, fire and power outage

--Anna Gorman

Los Angeles weather: a rainy, chilly Sunday

Los Angelenos woke up to a light, chilly rain Sunday that is expected to subside by the afternoon.

The weather service is forecasting one-tenth to one-quarter of an inch of rain in the area Sunday. Highs around Los Angeles are expected to be in the upper 50s and low 60s.

Snow is forecast at elevations of 5,500 feet or higher.

Scattered showers are possible later in the afternoon, with a 20% chance of rain Sunday evening.

ALSO:

Man shot thousands of 'upskirt' photos, police say

Arrests at Occupy L.A. raise concerns for organizers, LAPD

Santa Ana man convicted of killing 9-month-old baby by fracturing head

— Ricardo Lopez

Woman killed in Huntington Beach car crash

An 82-year-old woman was killed and her husband injured in a car crash in Huntington Beach, police said Sunday.

Esther Kumasaka was a passenger in a 2002 Honda Acura that was hit by a Jeep Wrangler on Adams Avenue at Bushard Street around 9:30 a.m. Saturday, officials said. She died at the scene, according to Huntington Beach police. 

Kumasaka's husband, the driver of the Honda, was in stable condition at UC Irvine Medical Center, police said. His name was not immediately available.

The driver of the Jeep, a 33-year-old woman who was not identified, was treated at the scene for leg  pain and released after speaking with investigators, police said. An investigation of the collision is continuing.

ALSO:

Man shot thousands of "upskirt" photos, police say

Police probe car accident that injured 2 children, 2 adults

Santa Ana man convicted of killing 9-month-old baby by fracturing head

— Jason Song

Drunk driver blamed for crash, fire and power outage in Sylmar

A 28-year-old Sylmar man was arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving early Sunday morning after he allegedly crashed into a parked pickup truck that then struck a utility pole, causing a small fire and power outage.

The incident, which occurred near Olden Street and San Fernando Road in Sylmar, also injured a man sleeping in the pickup truck’s camper.

Los Angeles police Officer James Norton of the Valley traffic division said the alleged drunk driver’s 2007 Toyota Tundra was probably going faster than 55 miles per hour when it struck the parked 1990 Jeep Comanche.

“He was going so fast he pushed the other vehicle up onto the sidewalk,” Norton said, adding that both vehicles were totaled.

The collision knocked one of the high-voltage lines loose from the utility pole, Norton said, causing a small fire at the base and a limited power outage.

The condition of the man sleeping in the camper was unknown. Neither man was identified.

ALSO:

Bicyclist dies after striking guardrail in Malibu

Man shot thousands of 'upskirt' photos, police say

Santa Ana man convicted of killing 9-month-old baby by fracturing head

-- Ricardo Lopez

Man dies after falling into pool while mowing lawn in Anaheim

LawnMowingDeathA 41-year-old Anaheim man died Saturday when he fell into a swimming pool while mowing a lawn, authorities said.

The Orange County coroner’s office said the man, Jose Velasquez Castillo, was taken to UC Irvine Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 1:59 p.m.

Castillo was mowing a lawn in the residential cul-de-sac of South Stone Circle near the 57 Freeway on Saturday when he fell into a the pool.

Officials are still not sure how the incident occurred and the cause of death was still unclear, pending an autopsy.

ALSO:

Los Angeles weather: A rainy, chilly Sunday

Bicyclist dies after striking guardrail in Malibu

Drunk driver blamed for crash, fire and power outage

-- Ricardo Lopez

Image: Map shows approximate location of incident in the 800 block of South Stone Circle in Anaheim, where a man died Saturday after he fell into a swimming pool while mowing a lawn. Credit: Google Maps

Laguna Beach hotels to recycle all soaps -- a first in U.S.

HotelbarsoapsLaguna Beach welcomes more than 6 million visitors annually to its sandy shores. Now visitors who stay in the beachside city's 22 hotels and lodging establishments will be inadvertent participants in a citywide effort to recycle all of the soaps, shampoos, hair conditioners, lotions and bath gels that are left over after a night's stay.

Starting Monday, Laguna Beach becomes the first city in the nation to have all of its hotel properties with more than 20 rooms participate in Clean the World -- a Florida-based nonprofit that provides recycled hotel soaps and hygiene products to those in need. Montage Laguna Beach, Pacific Edge Hotel and Best Western Laguna Brisas are among the 18 participating hotels, along with four of the city's six bed and breakfasts, for a total of 1,229 rooms.

In an average year, with an estimated 75% occupancy rate, Laguna Beach hotels generate 336,000 bars of soap and a slightly lesser number of shampoo, conditioner, bath gel and lotion bottles, all of which were previously thrown in the trash. Working with Clean the World, those hygiene products will be reclaimed by the housekeeping staff and set aside in a separate receptacle to be shipped to a Las Vegas processing facility. The bars of soap are cleaned of hair and paper, sterilized, ground into pellets and pressed into new bars of soap that are distributed to non-governmental organizations in 45 countries that do not have ready access to soap.

The bottled amenities are likewise reclaimed. If they're full, the bottles' exteriors are sterilized and redistributed to homeless shelters and soup kitchens inside the U.S. If the bottles are 25% empty, the plastic is recycled or potentially upcycled for use in other products.

Founded in 2009, Clean the World has 1,200 partner hotels across the U.S. and Canada, 126 of which are in California, including the Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel in Anaheim. Since joining the Clean the World Hospitality Partnership Program in July, Disney's three Southern California resorts have collected 3,152 pounds of hotel soap and 2,212 pounds of bottled amenities such as shampoo.

Clean the World charges hotels 65 cents per room per month for the service. Of the 4.6 million hotel rooms in the U.S., Clean the World recycles the hygiene products for about 6% of them, said Shawn Seipler, who co-founded the nonprofit in 2009.

At the time, Seipler was a business executive and on the road four nights a week.

Arrests at Occupy L.A. raise concerns for organizers, LAPD

Occupy L.A.

Occupy L.A. organizers said they are working to address security issues after several arrests.

Protester Orameh Bagheri said the camp's safety committee is working on how to address acts of aggression, which she said are an anomaly. "It is a nonviolent movement," she said.

A woman was arrested at the encampment outside City Hall after she set another person's clothes on fire, police said. In another incident hours later, a woman was arrested after protesters said she struck a man with a tent pole. Both were booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

Also Friday, police arrested a man on suspicion of climbing a tree and dumping fluorescent paint on a historic marble fountain that the city barricaded earlier this week to protect from vandalism.



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