Six patients who were afflicted with a flesh-eating bacteria were treated in the past several weeks at an Omaha hospital, including at least one person from western Iowa. The condition is very rare and is often deadly. The Iowa woman survived. Jane Bisenius is from Schaller, in Sac County. She says she first saw the spot on her arm on April 12th.  “I noticed in the morning a little round, pinkish-red circle on my elbow, my left elbow,” Bisenius says. “On my way home, that red dot swelled up to an oval about the size of a cupped hand and it became very hot and painful, my arm did.”

When that spot on her arm swelled to the size of a softball, Bisenius’ daughter, a doctor, told her to get to an emergency room right away. Bisenius had surgery at a Spencer hospital and she seemed to be getting better for a while, but things quickly worsened.  “We could see the redness spreading up and down the arm about an inch every 15 to 20 minutes,” she says. That’s when Bisenius was airlifted to the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. When she arrived, she had a temperature of 104-degrees and was extremely sick. Doctors say the cause of her condition was a staph infection. She spent eight days at the hospital, being treated in the hyperbaric oxygen unit. She has recovered but will continue to receive physical therapy so she can regain the full use of her arm.

Dr. Jeffery Sartin is an infectious disease specialist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He says people shouldn’t panic, as this type of case usually only appears in the region two or three times a year. “There are some stories that get in the news that are very dramatic and tragic, really, but these are very, very rare,” Dr. Sartin says. “There are a lot of bad things that can happen to you out there and there are probably others that are more likely that you should worry about.” The affliction is called necrotizing fasciitis, and it kills 30 to 40-percent of the people who become infected. Generally, he says, the flesh-eating bacteria does not spread from one person to another.  “In most cases, if somebody gets it and you’re in contact with them, you’re at no great risk,” Sartin says. “There are a few exceptions. For instance, if somebody has a staph infection, especially the resistant staph called MRSA, if you live in a household with that person, you are more likely to have MRSA on your body, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to get a bad skin infection.” A Georgia woman who recently went zip-lining and landed in a river contracted a severe case of the disease. She had to have both hands and a leg amputated. The Nebraska Medical Center has the area’s only Level One hyperbaric oxygen unit.

(Radio Iowa)

Sheriff’s Officials in Guthrie County early this (Monday) morning, released the name of a Greene County man who drowned in Lake Panorama Saturday evening. 54-year old Larry Blanchfield, of Churdan, died shortly after the incident occurred at around 5:20-p.m., Saturday.

Authorities say they received a 911 call from a cell phone at around 5:23-p.m., indicating there was a subject down in the water at Lake Panorama, who was unresponsive.  Emergency services responded, including Panora Fire & Rescue, Lake Patrol, State Patrol and Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office.  A male subject later identified as Blanchfield, was pulled from the water with the help of citizens and LPA Lake Patrol.  Panora paramedics attempted to revive the man by performing CPR, but were unsuccessful.  Blanchfield was transported to the Guthrie County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A preliminary investigation indicates Blanchfield initially jumped off the boat into the water to retrieve a hat and went under the water.  The investigation is continuing at this time.  Alcohol is not believed to be a factor.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

 343 PM CDT SUN JUN 10 2012 
 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
 370 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
COUNTIES….(KJAN LISTENING AREA HIGHLIGHTED IN BOLD)

ADAIR                ADAMS               AUDUBON
BOONE                BUENA VISTA         CALHOUN
CARROLL       CASS                CERRO GORDO
CHEROKEE             CLARKE              CLAY
CRAWFORD        DALLAS              DECATUR
DICKINSON            EMMET               FRANKLIN
FREMONT              GREENE              GUTHRIE
HAMILTON             HANCOCK             HARDIN
HARRISON             HUMBOLDT            IDA
KOSSUTH              MADISON             MILLS
MONONA               MONTGOMERY          O`BRIEN
OSCEOLA              PAGE                PALO ALTO
POCAHONTAS           POLK                POTTAWATTAMIE
RINGGOLD             SAC                 SHELBY
STORY                TAYLOR              UNION
WARREN               WEBSTER             WINNEBAGO
WOODBURY             WORTH               WRIGHT

HAIL TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER…THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH…AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE IN THESE AREAS.

REMEMBER…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE  FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN AND CLOSE TO THE WATCH
 AREA. PERSONS IN THESE AREAS SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR  THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LISTEN FOR LATER STATEMENTS
 AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY  DO PRODUCE TORNADOES.

A study finds almost half of all Iowa children will be nipped by a dog at some point. With school out and many kids playing outside, the odds of meeting up with a stray or unchained canine rise during the summer months. Pam Wiese, spokeswoman for the Humane Society in Omaha/Council Bluffs, says some dogs see us as moving targets.  “Kids on bikes, people running, sometimes dogs with a bit of a prey drive go, ‘Oooo, someone’s running! The chase is on and I can chase you,'” Wiese says. “Often times, dogs will run and bark and not bite. Sometimes they will try to bite you. That gives a dilemma to a lot of people because they want to get away from this dog but getting away means I’m moving and he may want to chase.” Wiese says the best thing a child — or an adult — can do if they come in contact with an aggressive dog is to stop and stand still.

Her simple advice: “Be a tree. Stand still, put your arms down, look at your feet and just look down. Don’t make eye contact with a dog that appears to be approaching or is upset. He may come up, sniff you and leave, like, ‘Oh, you’re boring.'” Wiese says locking eyes with an aggressive dog can actually make matters worse. “Don’t make eye contact with the dog and a lot of times, that will just defuse the situation. The dog will go, ‘Oh, well, you’re not threatening. You’re actually kind of boring. There’s nothing to chase here. I’m going to sniff you and then go on my merry way.'” Wiese says parents need to teach the “Be a Tree” technique to all children, as it may prevent a serious injury. She also reminds parents to talk to their kids about how to act around a dog and never to pet an animal without the owner’s permission.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The 100th anniversary of Iowa’s worst mass killing will be commemorated with lectures, films and a chance to see the ax used in the grisly crime. But most events will be in Red Oak, 25 miles from where the crime occurred in Villisca. In part that’s because the county history center in Red Oak has better meeting space, but some say it’s also because after a century, Villisca residents are tired of talking about the case. As former mayor Susie Enarson puts it, “I would like it to be over.” But many people will still head for Villisca, where they can tour the house where two adults, their four children and two of the children’s friends were hacked to death while they slept. Their bodies were found June 10, 1912.

Two people,  and adult male and a child were injured during a single vehicle accident Saturday afternoon, northwest of Atlantic. The accident happened on Highway 173, about one-half mile north of Eastland Road, or about 2-miles north of the intersection of Highway 173 and 83, at around 3:25-p.m..

According to dispatch reports, an approximately 45-year old male was trapped in the vehicle. The 4-year old male child was in the back seat, in a child safety seat. The man was freed from the vehicle by crews with Atlantic Fire and Rescue. He suffered head and back injuries, but was conscious and communicating with rescuers when they arrived. He was flown by LifeNet helicopter to Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha. The child was transported by Medivac Ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, with what were described as minor injuries.

Marne First Responders were also called to the scene to offer assistance, along with Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies. Highway 173 was blocked to through traffic for nearly an hour.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Saturday (6/9/12) of 55-year-old Michael Dean Ohnmacht of Essex on a valid Montgomery County warrant for theft in the 5th degree. Ohnmacht was arrested around 11:33am and taken to the Montgomery County Jail where he was later released on $300 bond.

ATLANTIC –   Cass County Health System will be hosting a community open house on Sunday, June 10, 2012, from 1 – 5 pm.  The open house will showcase the completion of Phase 1 of the CCHS Addition and Renovation Project.  Guests should enter via the the main north entrance.

            “We are so excited to share the progress with our community!” said Pat Markham, CEO.  “It’s hard to believe we broke ground just 14 months ago, and now we have this beautiful new addition.  The improvements in facilities and equipment are amazing, and will enable us to continue providing outstanding care for our patients.”

            The main emphasis of Phase 1 is a two-story 42,250 sq. ft. addition, mostly to the southeast of the existing hospital.  The main floor of the new area includes the Emergency Department and Admissions, Same Day Surgery and Surgery Department.  All of the areas have been designed to maximize patient privacy and security, while accommodating the latest in medical technology.  The second floor of the addition houses Inpatient Services, which includes Obstetrics, Medical/Surgical, and Intensive Care Units.  Highlights of this area include large, homey patient rooms, each of which has a pull-out love seat for family members and a private bathroom with shower.  Having all the Inpatient Services centrally located will allow staff to be cross-trained and serve patients more efficiently.  Another major improvement in the new addition will be the updated air-handling systems which will allow more comfortable, consistent temperatures in patient rooms.

            Work was also done at Atlantic Medical Center during Phase 1, with the expansion of Suite C to create a separate Obstetrics/Gynecology area, and the remodeling of some existing space to create Suite D with six additional family medicine exam rooms.  “We have been very successful in recruiting and retaining our family medicine staff the last few years, so we needed additional space to provide care to more patients every day,” Pat explained.  “With the expanded clinic hours of 7 am – 7 pm four days a week, the AMC is able to accommodate almost all patients on a same day basis when needed.” 

Finally, the CCMH atrium area has been redecorated, thanks to the CCMH Auxiliary’s very generous $140,000 donation.  The Auxiliary funds were also used to purchase new flat-screen televisions for patient rooms and waiting areas in the new addition.

            The AMC addition and remodeling was completed last fall, and those areas have been in use since that time.  The hospital areas will move into the new addition shortly after the open house; the main floor departments will move the weekend of June 15, with the second floor departments moving the weekend of June 29.  “We do ask for everyone’s patience as we make this transition,” Pat noted. “Our staff has done a lot of planning and preparation, and hope to make the move with as little disruption to patients and families as possible.”

            Immediately following the move, work will begin on Phase 2 of the Addition and Renovation Project.  This will include remodeling of an existing 22,000 sq. ft., primarily for improved outpatient services.  The remodeling will take place in several phases as departments are moved to new locations, freeing existing space for work.  “We will do our best to keep the community informed as we move departments into temporary locations, and then into their permanent new homes,” Pat said.  “Remodeling is usually more disruptive than new construction, so please be sure to ask any of us for help if you need it – we’ll be happy to help you find your way!”

w/ Chris Parks

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (7.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS