Boing Boing links to post from a Hong Kong doctor to Dave Farber’s Interesting People list on SARS — the mystery pneumonia that’s sweeping Asia and has been spotted in Canada and elsewhere.
Unresponsive to various combinations of cefotaxime, chlarithromycin,
levofloxacin, doxyclycline and Tamiflu. All microbiology is NEGATIVE (after
one week)…So far 2-3 of our older patients with chronic disease have deteriorated
fastest. Medical staff – younger and fitter have faired better. Their
radiological findings have deteriorated in all but one case…We receive 2-3 admissions per day. So far no-one has shown any improvement.
Once intubated however they remain relatively static but very oxygen and
PEEP dependent. Those ventilated have solid lungs. Interestingly one
patient developed a pneumothorax on the medical ward and after chest drain
and re-expansion his pneumonia involves only the side without a chest drain.
Another patient (ventilated) has developed surgical emphysema.ICU is now closed for all but atypical pneumonias. All our other “clean
cases” have been transferred to other ICUs. All elective surgery is being
cancelled and wards are being closed and evacuated. Al ambulances are being
diverted…Masks are worn throughout the hospital. Staff are not going home to
children.Please take the warning below seriously. My impression is that even with
minimal contact with an infected person people have been becoming ill.