San Lazaro mulls referral to other hospitals amid leptospirosis influx

The San Lazaro Hospital in Manila might soon refer incoming patients who need dialysis to other hospitals amid the influx of leptospirosis cases.

According to Maki Pulido’s report in “24 Oras” on Friday, the state-run hospital only had four dialysis machines. The facility was also running out of doctors and nurses to cater to patients.

“Ang amin pong gamit pang dialysis naubos na rin po na kailangan pong mag  emergency purchase,” said David Suplico, chief medical professional  staff.

(Our dialysis supplies have also run out, so we need to make an emergency purchase.)

The hospital had prepared for the influx following the July 24 floods due to the southwest monsoon enhanced by a typhoon.

Among San Lazaro's patients was frontliner Jose Garay from Valenzuela City.

“Talagang siyempre sacrifice,” said Garay, who works as an animal keeper for the  Valenzuela City Veterinarian Office. “May mga tumutulong na kaibigan yun lang po muna inaasahan.”

(I need to make a sacrifice. We are just relying on help from friends.)

There are currently 59 leptospirosis patients confined in San Lazaro. Of these, 37 are in severe condition.

Three of the severe cases died this week.

“Yung isa is tatlong araw na po siyang walang ihi. So very late na po ‘yun,”  said infectious disease doctor Princess Mae Petallana. “Yung isa naman  po na-delay po kasi ayaw din ng family, ayaw nilang magpa-dialysis.”

(One of them wasn’t able to pee for three days. So it’s too late to save the patient. The other one was delayed treatment as the family didn’t  want the patient to undergo dialysis.)

San Lazaro advised individuals who waded through floods to immediately take doxycycline as a precautionary measure, and to prevent their condition from becoming severe.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Red Cross sent 15 medical personnel to the National  Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City amid the influx of patients. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/DVM, GMA Integrated News