Germs in Flight
According to Auburn University research presented at an American Society for Microbiology meeting, potentially dangerous bacteria can linger on airplane surfaces for days. The study took a look at two bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, also known as MRSA and E. coli O157:H7. Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen talked to Anderson about which surfaces the germs can survive on the longest and what precautions to take.
CDC: Millions of people use sleep aids
A CDC study found that nearly 9 million American adults use prescription pills or sedatives to sleep. Anderson spoke to Dr. Sanjay Gupta about the findings.
Deaf toddler hears first words
The surprise on 3-year-old Grayson Clamp's face in the video is priceless. His mouth opens wide as he points to the person in front of him speaking.
It was the first time Grayson had heard sound. He was born without a cochlear nerve, which connects the brain stem to audio waves in the outside world. His parents had him fitted for a cochlear implant at a young age, but the device didn't help.
Adult lungs given to 10-year-old girl
CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta says the biggest concern about Sarah Murnaghan's recovery is whether her body will reject her new lungs. The 10-year-old, who has cystic fibrosis, is recovering tonight after a six-hour surgery. Her parents fought so she could be eligible for priority on an adult organ list; the lungs she received were donated by an adult.
10-year-old in ICU after lung transplant
Sarah Murnaghan, a 10-year-old Pennsylvania girl with cystic fibrosis whose family fought to have young children prioritized for adult organs, received new lungs Wednesday, her family told CNN.
Her surgery took about six hours, and there were no complications resizing or transplanting the adult lungs, according to family spokeswoman Tracy Simon.
A statement said the family was elated and that the doctors say Sarah's prognosis is good.
AC360 411: Judge gives girl better chance at lung transplant
Editor’s Note: Tonight on AC360° Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Jason Carroll will have new details on the efforts to get new lungs for 10-year-old Sarah Murnaghan.
10-year-old Sarah Murnaghan is battling cystic fibrosis and desperately needs a lung transplant. Without one doctors say she will die, possibly within weeks.
Sarah has been waiting more than 18 months for donor lungs from another child. Her parents say modified lungs from an adult donor would give her a fighting chance. This week they filed a lawsuit to get Sarah on the waiting list for adult lungs. A federal judge ruled in their favor and will allow Sarah to be on the adult waiting list for 10 days. Here’s the AC360 411 on organ transplants and cystic fibrosis: FULL POST
Father: Sarah is so strong and positive
Anderson Cooper talks with the family of 10-year-old Sarah Murnaghan, who is now one step closer to possibly receiving lung transplant. Her parents are afraid their daughter, who has cystic fibrosis, could die in weeks if she doesn't receive a transplant.
A federal judge in Philadlephia granted a 10-day restraining order blocking U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius from applying a policy that keeps children younger than 12 from being prioritized on the list for available adult lung transplants.
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Post by: Filed under: Medical News |
Can oral sex cause throat cancer?
Three years after his diagnosis, actor Michael Douglas told The Guardian that his throat cancer may have been caused by the human papillomavirus contracted through oral sex. His statement put the spotlight on a larger public health issue.
Smoking and drinking are also significant risk factors for throat cancer. CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains that doctors can test to determine if there's a direct link between HPV and cancer.
"What they're searching for is DNA of the virus ... and if they find it, then they can almost definitively say that this was caused by the HPV infection."
HPV is thought to cause 1,700 oropharyngeal, or throat, cancers in women and 6,700 oropharyngeal cancers in men each year, according to the CDC.
Growing alarm over new virus
Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports on the new coronavirus. Thirty of the 50 known cases have been fatal.
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Post by: Filed under: Dr. Sanjay Gupta • Medical News |
Keeping Them Honest: Deadly bacteria in VA hospital
As AC360 first reported back in December 2012, the Veterans Administration hospital in Pittsburgh had high levels of Legionella bacteria in its water supply, but for months failed to solve the problem.
Staff and patients weren't made aware of the issue, and at least five patients died. Eventually drinking fountains were sealed off and patients stopped getting baths and showers, but it was too late for some of those who came into contact with the bacteria.
Victims' families are livid about how the problem was mishandled. "There were deaths before him that we didn't know about. We wouldn't have gone there ... He had a good outlook on life. He felt he had more time left," says Sandy Riley whose brother Mitch Wanstreet died after contracting Legionnaire's disease at the hospital.
