GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 2 July) – A patient at the city government-run Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital has been placed under isolation as she is suspected to have meningococcemia.
Dr. Ryan Aplicador, hospital chief, said Tuesday the patient is currently undergoing initial treatment and observation at the hospital’s isolation facility pending the confirmatory tests for the disease.
Meningococcemia is an infection caused by the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria, the same type of bacteria that can cause meningitis. It is reportedly potentially life threatening and contagious that can “spread from person to person via respiratory secretions,” like through sneezing and coughing.
“We have a suspected patient for meningococcemia but we have yet to confirm it through some tests,” he said in an interview over radio station dxMD here.
The official said the patient, a 15-year-old female, was brought to the hospital over the weekend with suspected symptoms of meningococcemia.
Among the symptoms exhibited by the patient were high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, convulsion and vomiting, he said.
Aplicador said they immediately placed the patient in their isolation room and gave all those who were in contact with her with ciprofloxacin antibiotic for prophylaxis or preventive measure based on standard procedure.
He said the move was aimed to prevent the possible spread of the disease among hospital workers and other patients.
If eventually confirmed, he said they will immediately subject her to necessary antibiotic treatment to contain the infection.
He said they may also coordinate the referral of the patient to a much bigger hospital if her family would request for it.
“But in cases like this, the treatment will depend on the capacity of the patient to take the antibiotics and later recover, not much on the capability of the hospital,” he said.
“Rest assured that we are doing everything we can and properly handling this case,” Aplicador added. (MindaNews)