Hospital Hit by Stronger Superbug
BBC
Tue December 6, 2005
Area: Warwickshire
Eleven patients at Walsgrave hospital in Coventry have acquired a superbug said to be stronger than MRSA.
It is known as gentamicin resistant MRSA and does not react to standard drugs used to treat the bacteria.
A leaked document seen by the BBC News website suggests it causes blood poisoning and chest infections.
The hospital trust said it is not aware of any deaths associated with the strain and it was first identified during routine screening in June.
A note from a hospital microbiologist said the super strain occurred in two intensive care units, C2 and C5, and in a high dependency unit on C2.
Five occurred in just 10 days in August and September, while eight were likely to have been acquired in the hospital.
As well as gentamicin - a frontline antibiotic in the treatment of MRSA - the strain is also resistant to mupirocin, fucidin, rifampicin.
"The strain is particularly recognisable because of its very resistant sensitivity pattern," the note said.
Skin infected
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust's medical director, Martin Lee, said it is one of the 10 most improved centres in fighting hospital acquired infections.
He said during routine screening one patient in intensive care was identified as having the resistant strain of MRSA. Further tests were carried out and nine patients were found with it on their skin.
"Since then there has only been one other isolated case and no higher rate of complication has been identified of gentamicin resistant MRSA," he said.
"In addition no other patients were identified as having this form of MRSA on wards where these patients were transferred to."
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