A senior student in the nursing program at UCF may have contracted bacterial meningitis last week.
An e-mail sent to all senior nursing students Friday stated that the student began feeling ill and coughing up fluid on Wednesday. The e-mail also stated that the student was admitted to the hospital Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning after other symptoms developed, including a high fever.
Because of the danger posed by the infection, the UCF Student Health Center began distributing prescriptions for Ciprofloxacin to nursing students Saturday morning.
Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic used to treat or prevent certain infections caused by bacteria.
At 10 a.m. Saturday, about 20 nursing students waited in line to see available doctors, with more students showing up throughout the day. Those treated were issued a prescription for a one-time, 500 milligram dosage as a preventative medicine.
"We're normally open for acute care only on Saturdays," said Claudia Witcher, assistant director of nursing at the UCF Health Center. "Since this happened so late on Friday, we opened up for the nursing students to come in and get treated."
The prescriptions were available until 2 p.m. Saturday when the Health Center closed. Prescriptions could be filled at any area Publix free of charge or at the Student Health Center pharmacy for $4.
Concern over the deadly infection has been running high since the death of University of South Florida student Rachel Futterman on Sept. 24.
The hospitalized UCF student attended class on Monday and Wednesday, but the privacy provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act prevent Health Services from releasing the student's identity.
Bacterial meningitis is a contagious infection that causes inflammation of the membranes covering the spinal cord and brain, which can lead to death.
Although concerned about the infection, most students felt the College of Nursing and Health Services handled the issue well.
"The College of Nursing handled the issue professionally and didn't violate any HIPAA rules," senior nursing student Allison Gallagher said. "They gave us all of the resources to get here and get treated."
Hanna Isenstein, a senior nursing student, arrived at the Health Center promptly at 10 a.m. for the prescription.
"I think they're handling it all right," Isenstein said. "They were pretty on top of everything and told us what we needed to know quickly."
Some students appeared to be upset at a lack of communication between the College of Nursing and the Health Center. Students who arrived before 10 a.m. had to wait for an hour, while some that arrived after 10 a.m. were seen almost immediately.
Overall, students said they felt that both departments responded appropriately.
"It could have been a lot worse," said Crystal Curtis, a nursing student who received a prescription.
Student Health Services is still offering the prescription for those that could not get an appointment on Saturday.
Those who feel they are at risk or those who are concerned about the infection should call the Health Center at 407-823-2701 and make an appointment.



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