Posted on Sun, Oct. 12, 2008

Print E-Mail

Keller teen's death illustrates importance of flu shots

Taylor Moon’s flu was getting worse. His mother called the doctor’s office and was told, "Bring him in tomorrow morning." A few hours later, Taylor, 14, of Keller, stopped breathing.

Less than five days after coming down with the flu, he was dead. It was Valentine’s Day.

"It’s unreal," Susan Moon said recently. "You feel like it isn’t happening."

At first, the cause of Taylor’s death was listed as complications from the flu. But weeks later, autopsy results showed that he was infected with something rare and little known — MRSA pneumonia.

People familiar with the antibiotic-resistant MRSA superbug know that it is usually passed through open sores and wounds. But little is known about MRSA pneumonia, which piggybacks on cases of the flu.

Statistics about the illness and related deaths are not kept in most states, including Texas. But one study showed that cases are on the rise, especially among teens.

Taylor didn’t have any open sores, his mother said. "A lot of people think we ignored a skin infection on him." If only. He would have had a fighting chance.

Moon worked to get over the shock of her son’s death. She became a watchdog and has gathered valuable information about MRSA pneumonia.

She learned that two weeks before Taylor died, U.S. doctors received a medical advisory from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asking them to look out for young patients with influenza. Doctors who were suspicious about the illness, the advisory stated, should test patients for MRSA.

Taylor never got a test. Moon wishes she had known about the advisory.

"You know parents will go through hell and back for their sick child," she said. "I just want the parents to have the knowledge to know to demand" the MRSA test.

Flu shots

This year, the recommended age for those who should get a flu shot has changed, partly because of MRSA pneumonia fears.

Now, the recommended age for shots is 6 months to 18 years. Flu shots are also recommended for adults older than 50, pregnant women and healthcare workers.

Why emphasize flu shots? Doctors say the best way to prevent MRSA pneumonia is to prevent an initial flu bout.

Moon wants parents to understand the new recommendations. She also wants to lobby state lawmakers next year to increase MRSA reporting requirements in Texas.

A test program is under way in several cities, but statewide infection statistics aren’t kept. A new state panel on infectious diseases has been slow to start because it lacks funding.

Elsewhere, a new California law requires that high-risk patients in hospitals be tested for MRSA within 24 hours of admittance.

Deaths must be reported to the state, too.

Most other states do not have similar requirements. In Texas, hospitals say they voluntarily test patients for MRSA.

Susan Moon said her sudden growth into a watchdog is a way to cope.

"I wouldn’t wish this pain on anyone," she said. "This is the only thing I have left. I want to prevent it from happening to someone else."