STORM2K

MomH wrote:Here in the center of the state, Highlands Co., we are having a wierd problem. According to an infectious disease specialist in this town and another one in Tampa, we are having an outbreak of a virulent staff infection. It manifests itself by causing huge, huge sores which start out looking like a pimple. They gradually get larger, and larger until the center sore is anywhere from the size of a green pea to the size of a dime and filled with a green pus. The infected area outside this sore is bright red, slightly welted, and can be between 3 - 8 inches in diameter. They are extremely painful, very deep, and very often have to be excised and drained. It is not unusual to have more than one at a time. They can and do occur on any part of the body but underarms, stomachs, and bottoms seem most prevelant. I know one girl who has 30+ smaller ones in various stages right now. Sorry for the graphic detail but I want you to know these are not regular boils, carbuncles, or infected bites. Doctors say there are as many as 4000 cases in this area and they have no idea how it is spread. Most people who have gotten them and gone to the doctor have been put on long term antibiotics which sometimes doesn't help much. Some have been hospitalized because the infection got so bad before they went to doctors.

Everyone in my family has had at least one, most (including my 8 year old granddaughter) have had many more.

Have any of the rest of you in the state had any similar outbreaks in your area? I am trying to get an idea if this is a localized problem or statewide. I know of at least one case 5 hours from Tampa. BTW, this started in our family the end of April so we can't blame something blown up by the storms.

Anything you can tell me would be appreciated.

MomH

Mold lingers as a reminder of 2004 hurricanes
By BARRY FOSTER
February 7, 2005

Sebring, Florida -- He thought he had the flu -- but what Ray Ostlund really had was a problem caused by mold.

Medical officials say the malady, commonly referred to as "mold poisoning" can cause constant irritation to the bronchial tubes.

He reportedly picked up the spores from the office of his business Dual Neon, which sustained significant damage when the hurricanes hit Highlands County.

Health officials said in order for a formal diagnosis of mold infection, people need to be seen by a pulmonary specialist.

One mold infection, blastomycosis, is caused by inhaling microscopic particles known as spores that are produced by fungus.

The infection may be limited to the lungs but also may involve the skin and/or bones. In its most severe form, the infection can spread throughout the body and involve many organ systems.

Experts say that once inhaled, the spores can lodge in the lungs and cause a localized inflammation.

Fortunately, the disease does not spread from one person to another.

Like Ostlund, people may believe they simply have a cold.

In the early stages, symptoms may include a dry cough, fever, heavy sweating, fatigue, and a general feeling of ill health.

If not corrected, the malady can get much worse. Officials said that in time, the irritation can cause the bronchial tubes to such a degree that they then will not permit the air to go into the lungs.

That ultimately could lead to respiratory failure.

In about a quarter of the cases, only the lungs are affected. As the disease progresses, small lesions form in the lungs causing the air sacs deep within the lungs to break down and form small cavities.

In another 35 percent of the cases the disease involves both the lungs and the skin. Bumps can develop on the skin, gradually becoming small, white, crusted blisters.

The blisters break open, creating abscesses that do not heal. Approximately 19 percent of infected people have skin sores without infection in the lungs.

The remaining approximately 20 percent of the infected population has blastomycosis that has spread or disseminated to other systems of the body.

Symptoms may include pain and lesions on one or more bones, the male genitalia, and/or parts of the central nervous system. The liver, spleen, lymph nodes, heart, adrenal glands, and digestive system also may be infected.

Although the destruction caused by the hurricanes, coupled with water intrusion into buildings, left optimum conditions for the growth of mold, Highlands County Environmental Health Director Roger Christopher said he was not aware of any widespread mold problem.

Director of the Highlands County Health Department Dr. Paula Thaqi agreed that she also had not been made aware of any such widespread problem. However, she noted that mold poisoning or mold-related problems are not reportable diseases -- meaning doctors would not be required to inform health officials of those cases.

"There are people that have chronic lung diseases or asthma which is being exacerbated by the mold -- but again, that is not a reportable disease," she said.

As for Ostlund, his offices at Duall Neon have had a fix of sorts.

In an effort to battle the problem, Ostlund's sons constructed a new office on the outside of the building, to keep his dad out of the area and away from the mold.

Last Updated (Monday, 07 February 2005)

The first bug to battle penicillin was Staphylococcus aureus. This bacterium is often a harmless passenger in the human body, but it can cause illness, such as pneumonia or toxic shock syndrome, when it overgrows or produces a toxin.

[...]

Survival of the Fittest

The increased prevalence of antibiotic resistance is an outcome of evolution. Any population of organisms, bacteria included, naturally includes variants with unusual traits--in this case, the ability to withstand an antibiotic's attack on a microbe. When a person takes an antibiotic, the drug kills the defenseless bacteria, leaving behind--or "selecting," in biological terms--those that can resist it. These renegade bacteria then multiply, increasing their numbers a millionfold in a day, becoming the predominant microorganism.

The antibiotic does not technically cause the resistance, but allows it to happen by creating a situation where an already existing variant can flourish. "Whenever antibiotics are used, there is selective pressure for resistance to occur. It builds upon itself. More and more organisms develop resistance to more and more drugs," says Joe Cranston, Ph.D., director of the department of drug policy and standards at the American Medical Association in Chicago.

Microorganisms are a normal and essential component of all environments. Bacteria and fungi are needed to break down complex molecules found in organic matter. If provided with water and a food source, microorganisms will readily develop in almost any area. Microorganisms and/or their reproductive structures are almost always found in outdoor air. Their types and populations will vary depending on local environmental conditions. Doors, windows, and fresh air intakes provide easy access for microorganisms to enter the interiors of buildings. It is normal to find some quantity of microorganisms in indoor air. In a normal indoor environment, their numbers should be significantly less than outdoor levels. Excessive moisture inside a building from leaks, floods, or other sources can create an "out-of-balance" environment that will tend to increase their population. Depending on the amount of water, temperature, lighting, and food available, differing species may become dominant. In consequence, the presence of some microorganisms in large quantities may lead to adverse health effects involving building occupants.

I couldn't find anything on the 'net regarding this, but maybe the following could help a bit. You guys really had it rough last season down there with three storms crossing over and the only thing that comes to my mind is "mold".