Health Care Heroes
Beaumont's infectious diseases and
epidemiology team's detective work.
Robert Ortlieb
Special to the Jewish News
I
t took painstaking detective
work, but after epidemiologists
at Beaumont Health System
were able to track the cause of
a mysterious bacteria outbreak,
they were surprised to learn it had
implications beyond Beaumont's
three-hospital system; it jeopardized
patient safety nationwide.
The team, led by Jeffrey Band,
M.D., health system chair of epidemi-
ology, found that contaminated ultra-
sound gel was the source of an infec-
tion that affected up to 16 Beaumont
patients. They promptly alerted the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
the FDA. This resulted in a national
health alert and recall for one of the
most commonly used hospital imag-
Dr. Jeffrey Band, Beaumont Health
ing supplies: ultrasound gel.
System's chair of epidemiology
Recently, Band, a Huntington
Woods resident, was honored by
throat. After the probes came up nega-
Crain's Detroit Business as one of its
tive for contamination, they focused
"2013 Health Care Heroes" for the dis-
on the gel. That's when they found
covery of the tainted gel.
pseudomonas. They immediately
Band told Crain's, "The process of
pulled the remaining gel from the
problem-solving and becoming a med- entire Beaumont system.
ical detective was a natural to me"
Using fingerprint molecular typing,
A Detroit native, Band is a former
the team proved the bacteria in the
investigator with the CDC. In 1976, he
gel bottles had the same DNA as the
helped solve the Legionnaire's disease
patient bacteria. Testing on sealed bot-
outbreak. In 1981, he helped identify
tles from the manufacturer came up
toxic shock syndrome in women. Two
positive for the same strain of bacteria.
years later, he led Beaumont's epide-
From start to finish, the initial
miology department.
investigation took just three weeks.
In December 2011, Victoria Russo,
Band explained to Crain's, "I have a
a clinical infection preventionist
tremendous pride and satisfaction that
at Beaumont, noticed an uptick in
we were the only institution that iden-
patients testing positive for pseudo-
tified this as a problem"
monas aeruginosa, a bacteria that can
Their investigative work saved
cause pneumonia, urinary tract infec-
patients across the country from
tions and blood infections. The affect-
potentially life-threatening infections.
ed patients were all in the same post-
"This truly was a team effort," Band
said,
"not only from epidemiology,
operative unit. The pseudomonas was
but
throughout
the hospital includ-
only seen in their respiratory tract.
ing
nursing,
cardiovascular
surgery,
Because of that, they focused their
OR
staff,
anesthesia
and
respiratory
attention on medications such as inhal-
ers as well as differences in the ventila-
therapy. Everyone came together:'
tors the patients might have used. This
Band is an associate member of the
included respiratory care techniques
Greater Detroit Chapter of Hadassah
and nursing care. Finding nothing, the
and is a medical educator. His wife,
team, which included Paul Chittick,
Meredith Weston-Band, is a former
M.D., in the epidemiology department
chapter president of Hadassah. An
and Band, turned its attention to anes-
expert in travel medicine, Band is an
thesia and the operating room.
active medical presenter at Temple
Emanu-El in Oak Park. ❑
This led to another lead: all 16
patients had imaging performed dur-
ing surgery. This involved inserting an Robert Ortlieb works in media relations for
Beaumont Health System.
ultrasound probe down the patient's
We embrace and support residents of all religions
"I feel blessed to have the peace of mind, knowing that my
mother is well-treated and well cared for at St. Anne's Mead.
She enjoys Kosher Meals-on-Wheels on Passover and routine
visits from community Rabbis. The staff and administration
respect my mom for who she is. St. Anne's Mead is my
mother's home and a part of my family".
— Sharon Landau Levine
16106 W. 12 Mile Rd., Southfield, MI 48076 248.557.1221 www.stannesmead.org
SERVICES PROVIDED
• Wheelchair Accessibility
• Home Health Aide Chauffeurs
Available
• Multiple Appointments in One Day
• Hospital to Private Residence
• Hospital to Assisted Living or
Skilled Nursing Facility
• Home to Doctor's Office or Therapy
• Family Reunions, Weddings,
Showers, Holiday Events
W
Angels With
Wings Transport
248-581-6674
www.angelswithwingstransport.com info@angelswithwingstransport.com
BIRMINGHAM
BIRMINGHAM
a
MARTIAL ARTS
Birmingham
Martial Arts
2219 Cole Street • Birmingham MI 48009
248.646.6608
www.bmartialarts.com
39