Scabies Outbreak at Florence, SC Retirement Home Is Being Investigated by the DHEC

Carriage House of Florence, a retirement home and assisted living facility, is under investigation by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) after an outbreak of scabies occurred at the facility. On May 9, 2017, Carriage House officials contacted the DHEC, which responded by visiting the facility. News 13 quotes a DHEC press release as saying:

“The department is working with the facility staff to ensure proper care of the residents and to monitor for additional cases. DHEC is maintaining communications with the facility and the infection control measures they are taking. The department will continue to monitor the health and safety of all residents in the facility.”

As of right now, there is no public threat, despite scabies being a highly-contagious skin condition.

Carriage House has run into problems before

This is hardly the first time that Carriage House has faced problems like this. In August of 2015, a DHEC surprise inspection found a bed bug infestation in the facility. It also reported other acts of negligence and neglect, including:

• Inadequate food supplies, leading to residents being underfed.
• Resident beds without sheets on them (supposedly because of the bed bugs).
• Inadequate cleaning supplies, including detergent, which led staff to wash clothing and linens in shampoo.
• Insect infestations, including flies, “small black insects” and “roach-like insects.”

While it is inexcusable, it is also not surprising that residents of Carriage House might develop a highly-contagious condition, given the neglect with which residents have been treated in the past.

What is scabies?

Scabies, as defined by the DHEC, is “an infestation of the skin with the microscopic mite Sarcoptes scabei…. Scabies spreads rapidly under crowded conditions where there is frequent skin-to-skin contact between people, such as in hospitals, institutions, child-care facilities, and nursing homes.” Prolonged contact, as well as sharing things like towels or sheets, can lead to the spread of the infection.

Scabies mites burrow into the skin, where they lay their eggs. People who have developed the infection often present with welts and pimples in the affected areas. Because scabies is itchy – the other name of the mite that causes it is the “human itch mite” – people scratch at the areas. For the elderly, these can lead to serious bruising, open sores and additional infections.

Can you cure scabies?

Yes, you can. Medical treatments for scabies may include medicated lotions or prescription medication. Any clothing, sheets, towels or other such objects will need to be decontaminated as well. The Centers for Disease Control and Infection recommends washing all bedding and clothing (that came into contact with the infected patient) in hot water, drying it on a hot temperature, and then sealing it up in an air-tight bag for a minimum of 72 hours. You can also dry clean the items, but you risk other people’s items being infested that way, so it is better to simply do it yourself.

At McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, we provide comprehensive representation on behalf of nursing home residents who have suffered because of the negligence, neglect and abuse of staff, administrators and other residents. If your loved one developed scabies or another communicable disease or infection at Carriage House, or at any nursing home throughout South Carolina, or if you have been injured, abused or neglected in a nursing home or assisted living facility, we want to help. Please call 803-327-7800, or fill out our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our South Carolina nursing home neglect lawyers.