Monday, November 21, 2011

STEGH declares outbreak of MRSA and VRE

STEGH declares outbreak of MRSA and VRE

Contingency plans in place and no visitor/surgery restrictions


St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital staff declared an outbreak of two antibiotic resistant bacteria Friday afternoon on the hospital's second surgical floor but seem to have contained it.

Following four hospital-contracted cases of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE), two more of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and one MRSA infection over the past month and a subsequent consultation with Elgin St. Thomas Public Health, STEGH staff put contingency plans in place and declared the outbreak.

Most of the cases are in a dormant form in which the patient doesn't display symptoms but risks infecting others.

"They (the seven cases) were contracted within the organization and that was where our concern came in," STEGH VP Patient Services Brenda Lambert said.

"We have many patients within the organization who are colonized (with the two organisms) and we isolate them. These individuals, unfortunately, contracted them while they were within our organization...so that the rationale for us declaring the outbreak."

MRSA and VRE, however, are both common, antibiotic-resistant superbugs and it's not unusual for either to be present within a hospital. Patients who are caught with them are isolated to prevent further spread.

STEGH had another upsurge of MRSA a month ago at which time five patients acquired the germs during their stay.

A release from the hospital states the precautions taken to prevent further transmission included: extensive curtain and furniture cleaning and more hand hygiene audits.

Hospital visitors are also being asked to wash their hands before they enter the site as well as when they leave.

Lambert adds there have been no new cases of either since the measures were taken but says they're measures hospital staff will likely continue to enforce as if there was a perpetual outbreak.

"We are going to be continuing to be very stringent with our protocols and really upping the ante on a continual basis to ensure that we can maintain this because our ideal is that absolutely no patients get it while they're in their building," she said.

 

But Lambert says they're precautions they'll likely have to continue forever...

http://www.stthomastimesjournal.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3377723

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