MANILA (UPDATED) —The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) has converted some of its rooms to allow for more beds to accommodate a rise of leptospirosis patients following recent flooding, while assuring the public that it is prepared to handle the influx without reopening its gymnasium as a temporary ward.
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Speaking to ABS-CBN News, NKTI Executive Director Dr. Jose Dante Dator said the hospital has admitted nearly 50 patients with leptospirosis, a bacterial infection commonly spread through floodwaters contaminated with the urine of infected animals.
"The main reason why our emergency room is at capacity is that it was already operating at full capacity even before leptospirosis patients started coming in," Dator said. "We are the country's apex referral center.”
To ease overcrowding, NKTI has converted available spaces into patient care areas, adding around 20 beds over the past week. Hospital officials said they continue to repurpose rooms instead of activating the gymnasium, which had been used as a temporary leptospirosis ward during previous outbreaks.
While the gym could accommodate more patients, Dator said converting existing hospital spaces is faster.
The hospital has also coordinated with the Philippine General Hospital and East Avenue Medical Center to facilitate patient transfers should the need arise.
Dator stressed that early treatment remains the most important factor in preventing severe complications.
"One of the earliest complications is kidney injury or kidney failure," he said.
"The infection can also spread to the liver, causing jaundice. But the most severe cases are those that reach the lungs, leading to pulmonary hemorrhage or respiratory failure.”
Because NKTI specializes in kidney care, many patients admitted with severe leptospirosis require dialysis after the infection damages their kidneys.
Among them is 26-year-old Mark, who said he believes he contracted the disease after being splashed by stagnant floodwater on a street. Days later, he developed fever, dizziness, severe body pain, and eventually needed dialysis.
"Parang mababaliw po ako sa sobrang sama ng pakiramdam ko. Nangingig ako. Hindi ko po akalain na ganito po eh," he said.
Another patient, Kenneth, said he waded through floodwaters to buy food for his nieces and nephews. Thinking he only had the flu, he delayed seeking treatment until he could barely move because of intense muscle pain.
Doctors said both patients were fortunate to have reached the hospital in time.
But not all patients have been as lucky. Last week, a 17-year-old student from Navotas died after being brought to NKTI with severe leptospirosis. Hospital officials said he was the only leptospirosis patient admitted to the facility who succumbed to the disease.
Data from the Department of Health showed that from January to August 22, the Philippines recorded more than 4,200 leptospirosis cases. While lower than the nearly 7,000 cases reported during the same period last year, health experts warned that the risk remains high following widespread flooding.
Health authorities continue to remind people who have been exposed to floodwaters to seek medical attention immediately if they develop symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, headache, or yellowing of the eyes. They also advised those with high-risk floodwater exposure to consult health workers about taking doxycycline as post-exposure prophylaxis.
In a separate statement, the Department of Health said health centers as well as YAKAP clinics remain open and ready to assist patients who may need consultation and medicines. It also emphasized that patients with severe leptospirosis may avail of PhilHealth’s expanded benefit package of up to P400,000.
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