Wednesday, September 18, 2013

The FBI conducts criminal investigations of aircraft laser strike incidents

SAN JUAN—The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) San Juan Field Office and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are combining efforts with federal and local law enforcement authorities in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to raise awareness of laser strikes against aircraft in the islands.
The FBI conducts criminal investigations of aircraft laser strike incidents. Shining a laser at an aircraft or its flight path is a felony offense under Title 18, United States Code, Section 39A. If found guilty, offenders face a fine of up to $250,000 and five years’ imprisonment.
“Shining a laser at an aircraft is a senseless act which places the lives of aircrews and passengers who travel to and from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands at risk,” said Carlos Cases, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office. “Our office is committed to investigating these reports and working with federal law enforcement partners to identify and bring offenders to justice.”
The Federal Aviation Administration enforces stiff civil penalties of $11,000 per violation against persons who point lasers at aircraft. Since the FAA announced this initiative, the agency has opened 129 enforcement cases against persons who aimed laser devices at aircraft.
From January 1 to September 6, 2013, a total of 2,711 laser incidents were reported to the FAA nationwide, 95 in Puerto Rico. In 2012, a total of 3,482 strikes were reported nationwide, 75 in Puerto Rico.
Since the FAA created the reporting system in 2005, laser strike reports have sharply increased from 300 in 2005 to 1,527 in 2009; 2,836 in 2010; and 3,591 in 2011.
The U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Puerto Rico Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies in the region assist the FBI with monitoring and reporting these incidents to identify, apprehend, and turn over criminals to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
Lasers are inexpensive to obtain, and their ranges may extend more than two miles. Pilots affected by laser strikes regularly report temporary effects including after-image, flash blindness, and temporary loss of night vision. If a flight crew member is lased, his or her ability to safely fly the aircraft is seriously compromised, endangering passengers and the public.
If you witness an individual aiming a laser at an aircraft, send an e-mail to laserreports@faa.gov. Additional information about the FAA’s laser initiative is available at:http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/lasers/
For more information, contact:
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En el 2012 se generaron 3,482 informes sobre personas que apuntaban con un puntero laser a los aviones, 75 de los casos ocurrieron en la Isla. (Archivo) 

De ser encontrados culpables, las personas responsables de estos actos se enfrentan a cinco años de cárcel y multas ascendentes a $250,000.
Pueden afectar la visión de los pilotos y poner en riesgo la vida de las personas que ocupan las aeronaves.
El Negociado Federal de Investigaciones (FBI) investiga cerca de un centenar de denuncias sobre el uso de punteros láser contra aviones que aterrizan o  despegan en aeropuertos de Puerto Rico, una problemática que va en aumento cada día en todo Estados Unidos.
El portavoz de la agencia federal, Moisés Quiñones, explicó ayer que las personas alumbran con dispositivos láser que emiten una luz roja o de otro color –como los que se suelen utilizar durante presentaciones ejecutivas o educativas– y que tienen gran alcance, lo que afecta la visión de los pilotos y, por ende,  poner en riesgo a los ciudadanos  que ocupan las naves.
“Esto pasa con aviones que vuelan a alturas bajas o cuando están despegando o aterrizando”, explicó Quiñones.
El FBI y la Administración Federal de Aviación (FAA) buscan crear conciencia sobre esta problemática que, según las estadísticas, solo entre enero y septiembre de este año se han reportado 2,711 incidentes a la FAA en todas sus jurisdicciones, 95 de ellos en Puerto Rico.
En el 2012 se generaron 3,482 informes sobre este tipo de acto, 75 de ellos en la Isla. Al momento no se han reportado accidentes desgraciados conectados a este tipo de acto, pero las denuncias siguen en aumento.
El FBI investiga los casos en conjunto con la Guardia Costera, la Oficina de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza de Estados Unidos (CBP) y la Policía. Todas estas agencias están monitoreando y reportando este tipo de incidentes para identificar y arrestar a los responsables.

De ser encontrados culpables, las personas responsables de estos actos se enfrentan a cinco años de cárcel y multas ascendentes a $250,000.

De ser testigo de estos actos, puede enviar un correo electrónico de forma confidencial a la dirección laserreports@faa.gov. También puede visitar www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/lasers.
Daño potencial
Los peligros que representan los punteros láser se limitan al daño que pueden causar a  la retina.
El efecto más común es ceguera temporera y titileo. Es similar a mirar a un flash directamente cuando se toma una fotografía, y la impresión puede durar varios minutos.
El titileo se refiere a ver puntitos en el campo visual. Hay personas que han reportado que el efecto les dura por días.
Otro peligro es quedar deslumbrado, lo que significa que se pierde completamente la visibilidad en el campo visual central luego de ser expuesto al rayo. Por ejemplo, es como mirar de frente un auto con las luces altas en una noche oscura.
Consejos
Nunca le apunte un láser a una persona.
No apunte a una superficie reflectiva.
Nunca mire la luz a través de un cristal de aumento, como unos binoculares o un microscopio.
No permita que los niños usen los lásers sin supervisión de un adulto.
Fuente:  Portal  de la Universidad de Princeton web.princeton.edu.


Blinded by the light

A Coast Guard flight helmet emits bright green light, similar to the light from lasers, which have continually harrassed Coast Guard pilots around the country. Laser strikes on pilots have jumped from 283 in 2005 to 3,591 in 2011, a 902 percent increase. Temporarily blinding pilots with laser lights is a federal crime. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephen Lehmann.
A Coast Guard flight helmet emits bright green light, similar to the light from lasers, which have continually harrassed Coast Guard pilots around the country. Laser strikes on pilots have jumped from 283 in 2005 to 3,591 in 2011, a 902 percent increase. Temporarily blinding pilots with laser lights is a federal crime. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephen Lehmann.
Written by Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephen Lehmann.
Weather conditions, crew responsiveness, incoming hazards and myriad meters, gauges and measurements. These are just a few of the things a pilot has to be wary of when flying an aircraft. A new concern is affecting Coast Guard pilots from Cape Cod, to Hawaii, from Puerto Rico to Seattle. Every air station in the Coast Guard is on the lookout for a simple beam of light.
In 2012, more Coast Guard flights were interrupted by laser strikes, than at any other point in its 223-year history. Laser pointers are being pointed skyward in record numbers; presenting a very real, very dangerous hazard to the men and women whose mission it is to save and protect those in distress. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, instances of laser strikes on aircraft have grown from 283 to 3,591 between 2005 and 2011, a 902 percent jump.
Lt. j.g. Ryan McCue, a pilot with Coast Guard Air Station Houston, has experienced this new safety threat twice.
The first time was after participating in a training exercise in Katy, Texas. McCue and his crew were on their way back to the air station when they were hit with a laser.
A high-powered laser pointer is pointed skyward in a residential, Houston neighborhood. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephen Lehmann.
A high-powered laser pointer is pointed skyward in a residential, Houston neighborhood. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephen Lehmann.
“It was one or two quick bursts, but it illuminated pretty much everything in the cockpit,” said McCue. “It definitely seemed like they were targeting the aircraft. It wasn’t an accident.”
A pilot is accountable for the safety of themselves, their crew and their aircraft. That can be a weighty responsibility for any conscientious Coast Guard crewman or any pilot, particularly because they operate in a turbulent and unpredictable environment. These concerns are compounded by the prospect of being temporarily blinded by a carelessly wielded laser pointer. This is another factor that McCue comes to terms with every time he prepares himself for another flight.
“Our normal operations take us far offshore. It’s not always the best weather out there and if there’s a cloud cover where we’re not getting a lot of moonlight, that’s inherently dangerous as is and that’s typical for us,” said McCue. “Anything that’s going to increase that danger, like being exposed to a laser light, can increase the risk exponentially and could cause the crew to come to a consensus to call it quits.”
On July 16, 2012, this worst case scenario was almost fully realized.
A Coast Guard crew from Air Station Savannah, Ga., was in the process of searching for two men whose 19-foot catamaran overturned four miles off the coast of Myrtle Beach. The aircrew was in the middle of their search when a laser strike caused enough added risk that they were forced to return to base. Fortunately, the two men, 49 and 50, found the strength to swim safely to shore.
Another laser-related instance on Sept. 12, 2012, created an incredibly dangerous environment for Coast Guard crews conducting training.
A helicopter and crew from Air Station North Bend, Ore., was hovering 75-feet above the waters of Depoe Bay, carrying out a training procedure with a Coast Guard boat crew when a laser shone through the cockpit. At such a precarious elevation and with hampered vision, the aircrew departed the scene and headed back to base. As the boat crew headed back to their station the laser followed them, continuing to harass them for much of their transit.
Aside from the dangers of distracted or blind flying, there is another immediate effect of laser strikes – crew exhaustion.
“It can be a big drain on the unit if we’re constantly being lasered,” said McCue. “When a crew gets lasered, they can’t fly again for 24 hours or until they can get in to see an eye doctor for an examination and are medically cleared. Meanwhile, another crew has to be woken up in the middle of the night to fill in. With only 17 people at our air station that can fly, it can take a serious toll on our mission effectiveness.”
The human eye has many jobs. In addition to perceiving light, it also tells the brain the difference between colors and perceives depth and distance, essential factors for pilots. It’s one of the most sensitive instruments in the cockpit of any aircraft and it’s also the one most negatively affected by laser strikes.
Temporarily blinding pilots with laser lights is a federal crime. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephen Lehmann.
Temporarily blinding pilots with laser lights is a federal crime. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephen Lehmann.
Dr. William Lipsky, a certified ophthalmologist and refractive surgeon in Houston, was taken aback by the rising trend in laser strikes.
“I was shocked,” said Lipsky. “I didn’t realize was how much of a major problem this was until I started to do some research. It’s a pretty stupid thing to do.”
Having served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Navy for seven years and continuing to fly as a civilian, Lipsky understands the stresses and sympathizes with the pressures that come with being a pilot.
“The pilots who actually take the full brunt of it are momentarily disoriented,” said Lipsky. “The lasers are hitting when pilots eyes are dark adapted. That’s absolutely the worst time. Your retina has to recover, so you get flash blindness and that can last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes, even overnight.”
Considering the ever-evolving environment in the air, those seconds or minutes of recovery might coincide with an event that requires the pilot’s immediate attention. Without the full use of his or her eyes, a tragic and ultimately avoidable event might occur.
But, with close to 3,700 laser strikes estimated for the year 2013, the Coast Guard isn’t the only entity being affected by laser strikes.
“If it flies, it’s been targeted,” said Lynn Lunsford, FAA spokesperson. “Hardly a night goes by in the U.S. that we don’t have three to five laser incidents, if not more, in all the major metropolitan areas. I saw several laser reports just last night. It’s something that happens every night somewhere in the country.”
It’s a threat the government takes very seriously. To dissuade the public from turning their lasers skyward, harsh civil penalties have been put in place, subjecting violators to up to five years in prison and fines of up to $11,000. With educational outreach operations underway, the FAA and Coast Guard believe that in most cases people just need to be made aware of the harm they’re doing and the precarious situations they’re creating thousands of feet above the earth.
 Laser strikes on pilots have jumped from 283 in 2005 to 3,591 in 2011, a 902 percent increase. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephen Lehmann.
Laser strikes on pilots have jumped from 283 in 2005 to 3,591 in 2011, a 902 percent increase. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephen Lehmann.
- See more at: http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2013/02/blinded-by-the-light/#sthash.r4Z1lbzK.dpuf
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Monday, September 16, 2013

This blog announces the ongoing international competition for the best Alejandro García Padilla cartoons!


garcia padilla cartoons - GS


PR lawmakers still among highest paid
Issued: September 15, 2013
Despite some efforts at legislative reform, Puerto Rico’s lawmakers are sti ...


» PR #lawmakers still among highest paid. Read; http://ow.ly/oR7Qt #caribbeanbusin...
13/09/13 21:45 from Puerto Rico Business Newss Facebook Wall
PR #lawmakers still among highest paid. Read; http://ow.ly/oR7Qt #caribbeanbusiness PR #lawmakers still among highest paid. Read; http://ow.ly/oR7Qt #caribbeanbusinessPR #lawmakers still among highest paid. Read; http://ow.ly/oR7Qt #car...





Many bridges in Puerto Rico considered risky


16/09/13 08:41 from Puerto Rico Newswire
Puerto Rico's salty ocean air is corroding dozens of bridges across the U.S. territory, continually weakening the structures and posing a challenge for officials trying to prioritize which ones to repair first. 

Puerto Rico Police Reform - News Review


» Thousands of US bridges that carry millions daily have multiple safety red flags - Bradenton Herald
16/09/13 00:10 from puerto rico police department - Google News
Bradenton HeraldThousands of US bridges that carry millions daily have multiple safety red flagsBradenton HeraldFILE - In this Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007 file photo, a police officer approaches a woman sitting on the collapsed decking of th...
» Miss America pageant underway in Atlantic City - WIS
15/09/13 21:14 from puerto rico police department - Google News
Miss America pageant underway in Atlantic CityWISAccording to Conway Police, the shooting occurred at Mill Pond Bingo at 1410More >>. Conway Police are ... The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department said they are investigating an ...
» Many bridges in Puerto Rico considered risky - KFOX El Paso
15/09/13 16:07 from puerto rico police department - Google News
Many bridges in Puerto Rico considered riskyKFOX El PasoJavier Ramos is the director of Puerto Rico's Road Authority and said that while officials are planning to fix all 31 bridges, the structures are still safe and he would have cl...
» AP IMPACT: Many US bridges old, risky and rundown - Beaumont Enterprise
15/09/13 14:38 from puerto rico police department - Google News
AP IMPACT: Many US bridges old, risky and rundownBeaumont EnterpriseThe Chestnut Street Bridge over the Schuylkill River is on a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation list of 577 bridges that both lack backup protection against colla...
» AP IMPACT: Many US bridges old, risky and rundown - Ct Post
15/09/13 14:11 from puerto rico police department - Google News
AP IMPACT: Many US bridges old, risky and rundownCt PostThe Chestnut Street Bridge over the Schuylkill River is on a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation list of 577 bridges that both lack backup protection against collapse in case ...

32 MUERTES SOSPECHOSAS - ENDia


  • Rango del artículo 
  • 16 sep. 2013
  • El Nuevo Dia
  • POR MARGA PARÉS ARROYO Mpares@elnuevodia.com

32 MUERTES SOSPECHOSAS

Investigación federal triplica las muertes asociadas al brote bacteriano en hospital de la UPR en Carolina Atribuye el problema a serias fallas en los protocolos de higiene de la institución hospitalaria Asegura que el Departamento de Salud conocía de la

El brote comenzó antes de enero de 2013 y surgió en el hospital. Asuntos en el control de infecciones múltiples contribuyeron a la transmisión”
INFORME DEL CDC
28 de agosto 2013
DEVASTADOR INFORME DEL CDC UN INFORME confeccionado por un equipo de médicos e investigadores del Centro para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC, por sus siglas en inglés) sobre el Hospital de la Universidad de Puerto Rico (UPR), en Carolina, reveló una situación mucho más seria de la que ha trascendido públicamente sobre el brote de la bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii. Según copia del documento, al cual El Nuevo Día tuvo acceso, fueron 69 los pacientes contagiados con la bacteria y 32 las personas infectadas que han muerto.
UN INFORME del Centro para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades resaltó la pobre higiene del Hospital de la Universidad de Puerto Rico (UPR) en Carolina como una de las causas del contagio.
El documento también establece que el gobierno de Puerto Rico conocía de esta crisis desde enero de 2013, aunque fue el 17 de julio cuando contactó al CDC solicitando su ayuda. MÚLTIPLES FALLAS
Un equipo de la División de Promoción del Cuidado de la Salud del CDC -compuesto por los doctores Nora Chea, Kimberly Pringle, Shalon M. Irving y Amber Kerk- estuvo en agosto en Puerto Rico durante casi dos semanas investigando la situación. El pasado 28 de agosto el grupo emitió un informe sobre sus hallazgos en torno al brote bacteriano.
Aunque el escrito habla de 69 pacientes infectados con la bacteria, con los dos nuevos contagios anunciados esta semana el brote bacteriano ya ha afectado a 71 individuos, todos hospitalizados en la clínica carolinense.
El hallazgo principal sobre el contagio de esta bacteria fue la poca higiene. Entre las grietas en la cadena de control de infecciones, el equipo del CDC encontró pobre cumplimiento en el lavado de manos, principalmente entre terapistas respiratorios, flebotomistas (los encargados de la recolección, procesamiento y transporte de muestras de sangre) y el personal de enfermería.
También brillaban por su ausencia los desinfectantes a base de alcohol ( sanitizers ) en puntos claves de cuidado. Además, no hay una política sobre el cuidado de las uñas de las manos entre el personal hospitalario.
La entrada a cuartos de aislamiento sin guantes puestos, la salida de cuartos de aislamiento con guantes sucios y el compartir los glucómetros (instrumentos que se usan para obtener la concentración de glucosa en sangre) y los monitores para tomar los signos vitales de paciente a paciente (sin las debidas medidas de higiene) fueron otras de las fallas detectadas, además de familiares de pacientes que no seguían el requisito de usar equipo de protección personal (como guantes, batas y mascarillas) mientras visitaban a su pariente enfermo en el hospital.
El desecho de agua sucia utilizada en procesos de limpieza en los lavamanos, así como el lavado de paños de limpieza en esta área fueron otros señalamientos. Se advirtió, además, que mojar los trapos para limpiar puede bajar la concentración del desinfectante y provocar que la limpieza no sea tan efectiva en superficies y áreas de mucho contacto, como perillas, sillas y fregaderos.
El equipo del CDC también detectó incertidumbre en la adjudicación de responsabilidades en los procesos de limpieza. No estaba claro qué tareas le correspondía a los empleados de mantenimiento y cuáles a los de enfermería.
Además, los expertos encontraron deficiencias crasas en la limpieza de los laringoscopios (instrumentos médicos). Básicamente, se estaban limpiando las cuchillas sucias en la misma pila en que enjuagaban las limpias.
CULTIVOS POSITIVOS DESDE 2012
Según la investigación del CDC, fue el pasado 17 de julio cuando Salud los contactó para que los ayudaran en la pesquisa ya que, recomendaciones previas que le habían realizado al personal hospitalario, no habían detenido la transmisión de paciente a paciente.
En ese momento, Salud informó que siete pacientes de la unidad de cuidado intensivo habían arrojado positivo a la bacteria. También se informó que habían detectado otros 20 pacientes infectados, tres de ellos en julio. Además, informaron que 12 pacientes murieron, aunque no tenían información para confirmar que la bacteria había sido la causa de sus muertes.
Durante la visita del CDC, el equipo entrevistó empleados y verificó expedientes de pacientes. Se encontró que en julio de 2012 -hace más de año- ya el Hospital de la UPR en Carolina tenía 12 pacientes infectados con la bacteria.
La gran mayoría de las infecciones fue adquirida por los pacientes durante su estadía en el hospital a los 8.5 días después de haber sido hospitalizados. Más de la mitad de las personas infectadas (56.5%) eran varones.
Aunque la mayor parte de los pacientes (41%) fueron infectados en la unidad de cuidado intensivo, también se encontró una cantidad significativa de pacientes contagiados con la bacteria en otras unidades médicas en el tercero, cuarto y quinto piso de la clínica, que tiene ocho niveles.
La mayoría de los contagios fue a través de la línea central o catéter que introduce medicinas y nutrientes al cuerpo a través de una vena.
Sin embargo, los pacientes infectados también aparentan haberse contagiado a través de las unidades de Rayos X móviles y traqueotomías (procedimiento quirúrgico para crear una abertura a través del cuello dentro de la tráquea).
DURAS CONCLUSIONES
El informe del CDC concluye que el brote bacteriano comenzó antes de enero de 2013. Además, establece que el brote ocurrió en el hospital y que brechas en el control de infecciones múltiples contribuyeron a la transmisión.
El documento recalca que las fallas fueron, principalmente, en procesos inadecuados de limpieza y en bajo cumplimiento sobre el modo correcto para el lavado de manos.
“La transmisión de la bacteria en el hospital continúa, pero a una proporción más lenta”, indica el documento.
Tal como se había informado, la vigilancia epidemiológica del CDC continuará hasta que el hospital demuestre estar cuatro semanas consecutivas con cultivos negativos a la bacteria.
Posteriormente, el CDC recomendó seguir vigilando mensualmente la posible presencia de la bacteria entre pacientes que estén conectados a ventiladores mecánicos.
El CDC sugirió, además, que se mejoren las prácticas de higiene de manos, principalmente, entre empleados hospitalarios nuevos y entre los residentes médicos nuevos.
La bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii fue descrita por el CDC como un organismo capaz de producir brotes en unidades de intensivo si no se toman las debidas medidas de precaución.

Google Translation: 

Federal Research triples related deaths in hospital bacterial outbreak Carolina UPR attributes the problem to be serious flaws in the protocols of the institution hospital hygiene Ensures that the Health Department knew of the

The outbreak began before January 2013 and came to the hospital . Issues in multiple infection control contributed to the transmission "
CDC REPORT
August 28, 2013
CDC DEVASTATING REPORT REPORT prepared by a team of doctors and researchers from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC , for its acronym in English ) on the Hospital of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR ) in Carolina, revealed a much more serious situation that has transpired publicly on the outbreak of the bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii . According to copies of the document, which had access El Nuevo Dia , 

69 patients were infected with the 

bacteria and 32 people have died .

A REPORT from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention highlighted the poor hygiene of the University Hospital of Puerto Rico (UPR ) at Carolina as a cause of infection.

The document also states that the government of Puerto Rico knew of this crisis since January 2013 , although it was on July 17 when contacted CDC requesting their help. 

MULTIPLE FAILURES
A team Promotion Division Health Care CDC- comprising Drs Chea Nora , Kimberly Pringle, Shalon M. Irving and Amber Kerk - was in August in Puerto Rico for nearly two weeks researching the situation. On 28 August, the group issued a report on its findings about the bacterial outbreak .
Although the written speech of 69 patients infected with the bacteria , with the two new cases announced this week the bacterial outbreak has already affected 71 individuals , all hospitalized in the clinic carolinense .

The main finding of the spread of this bacteria was the little hygiene . 

Between the cracks in the chain of infection control, the CDC team found poor compliance in hand washing , especially among respiratory therapists , phlebotomists ( responsible for the collection, processing and transport of blood samples ) and nursing staff .
Also conspicuously absent the alcohol-based disinfectants ( sanitizers ) at key points of care. Furthermore, there is a policy on the care of fingernails on hospital staff .
The entrance to isolation rooms without gloves on, the output of isolation rooms with dirty gloves and sharing of glucometers ( instruments used to obtain the concentration of glucose in the blood) and monitors to take vital signs from patient to patient ( without proper hygiene measures ) were other faults detected , besides relatives of patients who were not required to use personal protective equipment (such as gloves , gowns and masks ) while visiting their sick relative in the hospital.
Disposal of waste water used in cleaning processes sinks and washing wipes in this area were other signs. It also warned that wet wiping cloths can lower the concentration of disinfectant and cleaning cause is not as effective on surfaces and high contact areas such as knobs , chairs and sinks.
The CDC team also found uncertainty in the allocation of responsibilities in the cleaning process . It was unclear what tasks employees belonged to maintenance and what to nursing .
In addition, experts found deficiencies in cleaning crass laryngoscopes ( medical instruments ) . Basically, they were cleaning the dirty blades in the same stack that 's rinsed clean.

POSITIVE CULTURES FROM 2012
According to the CDC report was last July 17 when Health contacted them to come and help in the investigation and that previous recommendations that had made ​​the hospital staff had not stopped transmission from patient to patient.
At that time, Health reported that seven patients in the intensive care unit had tested positive for the bacteria. It was also reported that they had detected another 20 infected patients, three of them in July. Also reported that 12 patients died , although they had no information to confirm that the bacteria had been the cause of their deaths .
CDC During the visit , the team interviewed employees and verified patient records . It was found that in July 2012 year - over - and UPR Hospital Carolina had 12 patients infected with the bacteria.
The vast majority of infections acquired by patients during their hospital stay to 8.5 days after being hospitalized . More than half of those infected (56.5 % ) were male.
Although the majority of patients ( 41 % ) were infected in the intensive care unit , also found a significant number of patients infected with the bacteria in other medical units in the third, fourth and fifth floor of the clinic , which has eight levels.
Most infections was through the center line or catheter introducing medicines and nutrients to the body through a vein.
However, infected patients also appear to have been infected through the mobile X -ray units and tracheotomy (a surgical procedure to create an opening through the neck into the trachea ) .
CONCLUSIONS HARD
The CDC report concluded that the bacterial outbreak began before January 2013. It further states that the outbreak started in the hospital and that gaps in multiple infection control contributed to the transmission.

The document emphasizes that failures were mainly inadequate cleaning processes and low compliance on the proper way to wash hands.

" The transmission of the bacteria in the hospital continues, but at a slower rate ," says the document.
As previously reported , the CDC surveillance will continue until the hospital proves to be four consecutive weeks with negative cultures for bacteria.
Subsequently, the CDC recommended monthly continue to monitor the possible presence of bacteria between patients who are connected to mechanical ventilators .
The CDC also suggested to improve hand hygiene practices , especially among new hospital employees and among new medical residents .
The bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii was described by the CDC as an organism capable of causing outbreaks in intensive units if you do not take proper precautions . 

Las estadísticas hablan: Puerto Rico camino a ser el “Detroit del Caribe” | El espejo de Detroit: ¿más impuestos o negociar con bonistas? - from CNE - Centro Para Una Nueva Economía - Center for a New Economy

» Las estadísticas hablan: Puerto Rico camino a ser el “Detroit del Caribe”
16/09/13 10:03 from CNE - Centro Para Una Nueva Economía - Center for a New Economy
Por: Laura M. Quintero Publicado: 14/09/2013 01:00 pm El economista Sergio Marxuach advirtió que si no se cambia radicalmente la forma de hacer las cosas, Puerto Rico se convertirá en “el Detroit del Caribe”: una ciudad en qu...
» El espejo de Detroit: ¿más impuestos o negociar con bonistas?
16/09/13 10:00 from CNE - Centro Para Una Nueva Economía - Center for a New Economy
Por: Ely Acevedo Denis Publicado: 24/06/2013 06:00 am Mientras la ciudad de Detroit afronta la quiebra inminente mediante medidas equitativas, como proponerle a los bonistas que también contribuyan mediante planes de pago o condonaciones...