Outbreak of respiratory viruses leads to longer wait times at area hospitals | CPT PPP Coverage

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December 15 – The emergency departments at PeaceHealth’s four Lane County hospitals are reporting record patient volumes due to an outbreak of respiratory virus infections.

The same practices that prevented the spread of COVID-19, such as wearing masks and washing hands, also prevented the spread of other viruses such as the common cold and influenza. With the public unmasked and kids back in school, these viruses have made a comeback. Typically, they would circulate slowly through the community and peak in late winter. This year, they arrived earlier than usual and are spreading rapidly among the unexposed and as we spend more time together indoors in the colder weather. This spike in infections is causing extended wait times for all health care facilities, including the emergency department.

This outbreak hits as the healthcare community is still recovering from effects of the pandemic. Prior to COVID, the United States was predicting a significant shortage of nurses and ancillary staff. The pandemic exacerbated this shortage with many healthcare workers moving to other professions or leaving the workforce entirely. PeaceHealth is working on several initiatives to address the staffing shortage, including partnering with local nursing schools. But these will take some time.

The current outbreak is a mix of multiple viruses including the common cold, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), COVID and influenza. COVID is still circulating in the community. The young, healthy, and vaccinated are more likely to have mild symptoms that resemble a typical cold. Anyone can develop severe disease, but it is much more common in the elderly and immunocompromised. The best defense is to get your COVID vaccination or booster and to encourage those around you to do the same. High-risk patients may be candidates for the antiviral medication nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid), which has been shown to decrease the risk of hospitalization, however it must be started within five days of the onset of symptoms.

We also are seeing a spike in RSV cases. In most older children and adults, RSV looks like a cold and is treated the same way. This virus is a concern in infants because it can cause bronchiolitis. It is most common in babies less than one year of age. They have smaller airways than adults so the inflammation and secretions caused by the virus can cause difficulty breathing. They may need support with additional oxygen or IV fluids until the symptoms lessen. There is no medication to treat RSV/bronchiolitis and anyone with typical cold symptoms does not need additional testing or treatment. If a child is having difficulty breathing, appears dehydrated, or an infant less than 2 months old has a temperature above 100.4, they should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.

Influenza A is rapidly spreading in the community. We have had a reprieve for the past few years however this disease typically causes thousands of deaths annually. Influenza is different than a typical cold. Anyone can get sick or die from the flu but the elderly and immunocompromised are at the highest risk. The best defense to protect yourself and your family is to get your yearly flu vaccination. You can still get influenza or COVID if you are vaccinated, but you are less likely to get sick. If you do get sick you are more likely to have mild symptoms, and you are much less likely to require hospital care. Patients should seek evaluation by a healthcare provider if they develop difficulty breathing, if they are dehydrated and not able to drink liquids or make urine, or if they are extremely weak, for example, unable to get out of bed or stand up.

Our local hospitals and emergency departments are making every effort to ensure that the residents of our community are cared for, however wait times may be longer than usual because of the respiratory virus outbreak. Please keep yourself and your family members safe by getting your COVID and flu vaccinations, washing your hands frequently, wearing a mask when you have symptoms or are around vulnerable individuals and staying home if you are sick.

Dr. Margaret Pattison is chief of staff at PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center