wbur.org
support wbur today!
Listen to this story
Superbugs
photo

By host Tom Ashbrook:

Here’s the nightmare scenario that no one wants and everyone risks: you check into the hospital to be stitched-up, cured, and saved. A doctor or nurse or dirty door knob passes you an antibiotic-resistant superbug. And you check out with more trouble than you came with. Or worse, check out dead.

Nearly two million patients now pick up infections in US hospitals every year. Ninety-thousand — maybe more — die from those infections.

Infection rates are rising. The superbugs get tougher and tougher to treat. And now, they’re jumping into the community at large, to locker rooms and jails and beyond.

Hear about superbugs out of control and how to stop the new wave of deadly infections.

Guests:

Jane Allen, health reporter

Betsy McCaughey, founder of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths

Dr. Barry Farr, epidemiologist and infectious disease specialist at The University of Virginia

William Schaffner, infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt

 
 

Comments are closed.

Recent Shows
After ‘No Child Left Behind’
Thursday, March 18, 2010

The Obama administration wants to rewrite No Child Left Behind. We’ll ask what’s coming for American education.

Comments [48]
 
The U.S.-Israel Blowup
Thursday, March 18, 2010

Top Pentagon brass complain the Israel-Palestinian impasse is undermining American interests. We’ll look at the US-Israel moment of crisis.

Comments [149]
On Point Blog
Sonny Rollins on Race and Jazz’s Future

Jazz legend Sonny Rollins joined us to reflect on his storied career and give us his thoughts on the future of music. To celebrate his 80th birthday, the hugely influential tenor saxophonist is embarking on yet another national tour.

More »
 
IED’s in Afghanistan: Hard Numbers

The Department of Defense provided On Point with some statistics about IED attacks in Afghanistan, where there has been an increase in the use of such weapons over the past 14 months. It’s striking to see the spike in numbers — from 2,677 IED incidents in 2007 to 8,159 last year.

More » | Comments [2]
 
Christopher Hill: U.S. Troop Withdrawal ‘On Schedule’

U.S. Ambassaor to Iraq Christopher Hill spoke with On Point live from Baghdad today as early voting gets underway, part of the run-up to Sunday’s elections. “So far so good,” Hill said, despite scattered violence. Hill said that the plan to withdraw U.S. combat troops by Sept. 1, and to leave only a residual advisory force of 50,000 or fewer, remains “very much on schedule.” Observers worry that a spike in violence could derail that timeline.

More »