# JFK Memorial Hospital

[<span style="font-weight: 400;">Seattle Times:</span>](https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20011021&slug=detect20) <span style="font-weight: 400;">(T)he leading players on Stevens' team of doctors (were) </span>**Dr. Larry Bush and Dr. Barry Abrams**<span style="font-weight: 400;">, infectious-disease specialists, and </span>**Dr. Randall Wolff**<span style="font-weight: 400;">, director of JFK Medical Center's emergency department. </span>

[<span style="font-weight: 400;">Dr. Barry Abrams/Dr Larry M. Bush,</span>](https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa012948)<span style="font-weight: 400;"> co-authors </span>*<span style="font-weight: 400;">Index Case of Fatal Inhalation of Anthrax due to Bioterrorism</span>*[<span style="font-weight: 400;">:</span>](https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa012948) <span style="font-weight: 400;">Because (Robert Stevens) was disoriented at the time of his presentation, he was unable to provide further relevant information .. On physical examination (by rostered doctors), he was found to be</span> **lethargic and disoriented**<span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">His temperature was </span>**39°C**<span style="font-weight: 400;"> (102.5°F), blood pressure was 150/80 mm Hg, pulse 110, respirations 18. Treatment with intravenous cefotaxime and vancomycin was initiated for presumed bacterial meningitis while the patient awaited lumbar puncture. No respiratory distress was noted.</span>

[<span style="font-weight: 400;">Seattle Times: </span>](https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20011021&slug=detect20)<span style="font-weight: 400;"> (At 7am) Wolff walked into the ER to start his shift. He found Stevens convulsing just before he slipped into a coma. </span>

[*<span style="font-weight: 400;">Index Case of Fatal Inhalation of Anthrax due to Bioterrorism</span>*](https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa012948)<span style="font-weight: 400;">: Within hours after admission, the patient had a generalized grand mal seizure and was intubated to protect his airway and so that ventilatory assistance could be provided.</span>

[<span style="font-weight: 400;">Orlando Sentinel:</span>](https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2001-10-19-0110190110-story.html)<span style="font-weight: 400;"> (same writer, dif version) Wolff performed a spinal tap, looking for hints in the spinal fluid that bathes the brain.</span>

[<span style="font-weight: 400;">New York Times:</span>](https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/14/us/nation-challenged-disease-anthrax-threats-points-limits-health-systems.html)<span style="font-weight: 400;"> Healthy spinal fluid is clear, but Mr. Stevens's was cloudy and cluttered with infection-fighting white blood cells.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">[Dr. Randall Wolff:](https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20011021&slug=detect20) That was the start of some sort of sign that something wasn't right.</span>