'Super-bug' linked to patient's death
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A woman patient has died and 14 others are receiving special nursing following an upsurge in cases of the drug-resistant bacteria, MRSA, at Guy's Hospital in London.
All patients being admitted to Guy's from other hospitals are being screened for the new strain of the bacteria, MSRA- 16, which has been found increasingly in recent months in hospitals in southern England.
The bacteria, a strain of the 'super-bug' methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, was detected when the patients developed wound infections. The 14 affected are not in danger.
The woman who died last week had been transferred to Guy's from a local hospital for emergency open-heart surgery. She did well and was discharged but became infected and went back to her local hospital. When her condition worsened Guy's was informed and re-admitted her.
Christopher Blauth, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon at Guy's, said yesterday that the patient had been infected with MRSA-16 and with another bacteria. 'MRSA was not the only infection present. She was desperately ill but it did make a contribution to her death.'
Mr Blauth said that the alarm bells sounded when a number of patients were found to have wound infections that proved to be MRSA. 'These patients are being treated in side-rooms from the wards using barrier nursing. In general terms there is no need for patients to be worried by this.'
A spokeswoman for the Public Health Laboratory Service said that MRSA was causing concern and was difficult to eradicate. The bacteria had affected dozens of hospitals and its various strains have been associated with numerous deaths.
About one-third of the population carry the bacteria harmlessly in the nasal cavity but the elderly and frail are vulnerable if infected, she said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments