A Tragic Loss

If the healthcare-associated infection (HAI) crisis in this country has a face, it would have to be that of Victoria Nahum. Her family’s experience with HAIs, culminating in the tragic loss of her stepson, Josh, is a nightmarish account of a system in dire need of repair.
 

The nightmare begins in 1999
The nightmare began in 1999 when, unbeknownst to Victoria, breast implant surgery left a virulent Staphylococcus epidermidis infection in her body. For six years, it sapped her strength and caused symptoms including severe joint pain, burning inside her arms and legs, and crushing fatigue. A rheumatologist diagnosed it as an autoimmune disease called Sjogren’s that he said was triggered by the implants, but would not be reversed by removing them. Victoria decided to have the implants taken out anyway. Her surgeon discovered Staph biofilm covering the top of the implants, and the mystery of her six-year ordeal was solved. However, her physical pain continues to this day.

November 2005
Then, in November 2005, Victoria’s 75-year-old father-in-law developed bacterial pneumonia as a result of his hospitalization for a small heart attack. Thankfully, he has fully recovered.
 

September 2, 2006
Finally, on September 2, 2006, 27-year-old Josh Nahum was injured in a skydiving accident near Boulder, Colorado. He was admitted to a local hospital’s ICU with a broken femur and a fractured skull. During his recovery in ICU, he developed a staph infection which, with treatment, cleared up. After six weeks in ICU, he was transferred to a rehab facility, until he developed a 103° fever and was sent back to ICU. Tests showed Josh had been infected with Enterobacter aerogenes. On Monday, October 9, Josh stopped breathing, became comatose, and was put on a ventilator. Excessive pressure in his brain, due to the bacterial infection, permanently destroyed his ability to breathe on his own and to move his head, arms, and legs. In a matter of moments, Josh had become a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic. Less than two weeks later, he died, not from his original injuries, but from complications from an HAI.

Taking Action
Although Victoria and her husband, Armando, were virtually paralyzed by grief immediately following Josh’s death, they quickly turned their pain into resolve that no one else should ever have to suffer because of preventable healthcare-associated infections. They founded the Safe Care Campaign, and now work tirelessly to make people aware of the dangers of HAIs and to help them understand what they can do to make themselves and their loved ones safer in healthcare settings. Through personal appearances, media coverage, and a comprehensive website, dedicated to news and information about HAIs, www.safecarecampaign.org, the Nahums have reached millions and positively impacted the lives of countless people.

Kimberly-Clark is proud to be named as a partner on www.safecarecampaign.org in the fight against preventable healthcare-associated infections.