B.C. hospital
tries to contain ‘superbug’
VANCOUVER - An outbreak of an antibiotic-resistant strain of bacteria
among newborn babies at the B.C. Children’s Hospital has doctors
worried. Three premature babies tested positive for methicillin-resistant
staphylococcus (MRSA) during screening last week. The infants will
likely be kept in isolation for three to four months, a doctor at the
hospital said on the weekend. The three babies have so far shown no
symptoms, said Dr. Alfonso Solimano, who runs the hospital’s special
care nursery. Although they are carrying the bacteria, they may not
develop an infection, he said. The tests found MRSA, often referred to
as a “superbug,” living on the babies’ skin. MRSA is resistant to
common antibiotics, such as penicillin and methicillin, but it can be
treated with vancomycin as a last resort. In addition to the MRSA
outbreak, the hospital has isolated another six babies who have a less
serious flu-like virus. The hospital also isolated an additional 22
babies because they had come in contact with the affected children.
Solimano said the two outbreaks have put a tremendous strain on the
nursery. Most of the babies in his care are premature, or sick, or
both, the doctor said. He said if the outbreaks intensify, he may have
to consider sending sick babies to hospitals outside the province. One
baby died of the bacteria during an epidemic at the hospital two years
ago. Solimano said the latest outbreak brings back painful memories.
“We had a total of 47 babies that became colonized, and we had a total
of 11 or 12 babies that were actually ill,” he said. “Amongst these
babies, there was one baby that died with this bacteria.”
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