California jails dealing with outbreak of staph infections 

Friday, January 31, 2003 
©2003 Associated Press 

(01-31) 04:07 PST LOS ANGELES (AP) -- 

More than 1,000 inmates housed in county jails were infected with drug-resistant Staphylococcus bacterial infections last year. Fifty-seven required hospitalization. 

Federal health officials believe the outbreak of the Staphylococcus aureus, commonly called staph, is the largest of its kind in any of the nation's correctional systems. By comparison, a similar outbreak in Mississippi prisons in 1999-2000 infected 59 inmates. 

Staphylococcus can cause the skin to boil and forms deep abscesses. An infection can be fatal if it spreads to the blood and antibiotics fail, or if it goes untreated. 

The infections were often misdiagnosed as spider bites before doctors began seeing similar symptons among inmates. 

"The problem at the jail is not under control yet," said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, the county's public health director. More than 100 infections have been reported this month alone. 

Staph infections are believed to be spread by skin-to-skin contact or shared personal items in the county's jails, officials said Thursday. 

©2003 Associated Press 

Dear Cayenne:

The article referring to jails and prisons taking precautions regarding inmates infected with TB.  How strange, my son didn't have TB prior to entering jail but within months he was so ill and kept insisting his cough and illness was serious. 

He felt awful and asked to be tested, finally he was allowed to see a doctor and tested positive for TB.  He was not separated and had no pressurized room other than the pressure of over 100 other inmates housed in the same dorm or room breathing each others airborne sputum through coughs and choking on their own phlegm.  Although we only had "glass" visits, I am sure that the amount of inmates with TB increased throughout the facility rapidly. 

My son did recover after treatment for six months.  We will never know how much damage was done to his lungs or those of others. 

The public cannot be that gullible to think that reports are a sufficient means of information.  If that were true, why would Gov. Gray Davis be planning to visit the LAC CSP?  Wouldn't reports save tax payers money? 

Especially since they intend to beautify the yard prior to the visit.  Why not let him see it as it is every other day?  I wonder if he will actually think those patio tables with the mystifiers are enjoyed by inmates on any regular basis. 

I can personally testify to them being open to visitors and their loved ones on only two occasions throughout the past 6 months.  The rest of the time during the sweltering and oppressive heat of the summer we could only look out at the mist dissipating into thin air.  It is very nice for the birds to refresh themselves in I suppose.  I will be glad to write to the Center for Disease Control on the current conditions.

Sidney

How can the prisons and jails in California be allowed to threaten the health of the whole community with their lack of the most basic elements of hygiene and medical care for inmates. These same inmates who enter healthy and re-enter the community diseased because no control nor prevention of 
illness spread inside.

The fact that the health department does not have access to these facilities is appalling. In fact what is going on inside is criminal. Stories of staph infection, HIV, TB, and Hepatitis are rampant. Why is the 
health of the nation being jeopardized by these institutions and what are you doing about it?

Why is the health department barred from entering and assuring the public and yourselves that the staff isn't covering up a time bomb that can kill and destroy quality of life for tens of thousands by released prisoners infecting the community. Why should anyone contract a wholly controllable 
illness?

Bob