While Red Sox fans in Massachusetts will spend the week discussing the disappointing outcome of the American League Championship series, Health Care For All will spend this week discussing the importance of International Infection Prevention Week, October 19-25 … with some help from the Boston Red Sox.
Before Terry Francona became the manager of the Red Sox in 2004, his knees were bothering him and doctors recommended routine arthroscopies, according to a September radio interview with WBUR. Unfortunately, what should have been a routine procedure led to a staph infection in both knees and placed Francona into what he considered the fight of his life.
As WBUR reported, “Staph is a common name for a group of bacteria that many people carry in their nose or on their skin. As Francona discovered, many strains don’t respond to commonly used antibiotics and are difficult to treat.”
After four more surgeries over a seven-week period, the Sox manager was in and out of intensive care, had some bleeding, and almost lost a limb. Recognizing that he is fortunate to have recovered, Francona is actively involved in efforts aimed at decreasing the number of cases of hospital-acquired infections in the Commonwealth and throughout the United States. We’re just happy to have Francona leading the Sox, and we are hopeful that Red Sox Nation will go all the way next year!
Kuong Ly
