In the news again!

Saturdays Herald devoted a two page spread on yet another complaint about an aged care facility. I feel for the grieving family.

However it is clear that Geoff Harper has a real gripe about Aged Care as this is not the first artilce he has written or been involved in about Aged care. He is against multi-nationals coming in to New Zealand.

To a certain extent I understand his gripe but at the end of the day because I am care focused, it comes from the calibre of staff employed. The employer is superflouous. It is a training issue.

However talking about scabies. Once it gets into a facility it is extremely hard to irradicate. The itch keeps coming back and flare ups are common. I have been involved in a facility that had a scabies outbreat and it kept coming back for 3 years.

What surprises me is that scabies wasn't treated in the first instance. Whenever there is a person with a rash dermatolgy say - Treat for scabies first. Early detection and treatment is what controls such outbreaks.

Scabies is rife now in New Zealand and not only in Aged Care facilities. It is also resistant to a lot of treatment available. It, like many other infection and infestation, have mutated to ensure the survival of the species. It seems the harder humans get to eradicate bugs the smarter the bugs or mites become.

So what is the answer?

1. Infection control principles. The most important is Hand Washing.
2. Observation skills of staff - early reporting will help to control these infestations.
3. Training

In the end this is what it comes down too. Increasing knowledge improves care. This is what it boils down too.