Charlottetown hospital reports more superbug cases
Two cases of VRE, five new cases of MSRA
Last Updated: Tuesday, June 3, 2008 | 2:43 PM ET
CBC News
Related
Officials at a Charlottetown hospital reported seven new infections on Tuesday, two from a rare form of bacteria and five staph infections.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital has reported a total of eight cases of vancomycin resistant enterococci, or VRE, since May. One patient with VRE remains in hospital, and the QEH said in a release that the patient would be discharged "shortly."
These cases mark the first infections of the bacteria discovered in P.E.I.
The hospital also reported five new cases of methicillin resistant staph aureus (MRSA) in one of its medical units. The QEH said in a release that the unit has been temporarily closed to admissions and swabbing and testing is underway to contain the bacteria.
Two of the five patients with MRSA remain in hospital.
Both VRE and MRSA are bacteria that have become resistant to common antibiotics.
Visitors and personnel at the QEH are being told to take extra care washing their hands and to use hand sanitizer more often to prevent further spread of the bacteria. Hand contact is the most common way for VRE to be transmitted.
Share Tools
Top News Headlines
- Syria massacre toll up to 108, UN monitor says
- The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting Sunday to discuss the recent massacre in the Syrian town of Houla, in which 108 people died, many of them children under the age of 10. more »
- CP Rail negotiations 'stalled,' union says
- Negotiations between Canadian Pacific Railway Lt. and the union representing 4,800 striking locomotive engineers and conductors have come to a "stall" after the government appointed mediator walked out at 2 p.m. ET, a union spokesman says. more »
- Ryder Hesjedal wins prestigious Giro d'Italia
- Victoria, B.C., native Ryder Hesjedal has become the first Canadian to win one of the cycling world's three Grand Tour events, wrapping up the 2012 Giro d'Italia with an excellent performance in the final stage in Milan. more »
- Neighbour may have helped find missing kids in Mexico
- Two Winnipeg children who had been missing for nearly four years were found in Mexico after a man raised concerns about his neighbour, according to a private investigator. more »
Latest Health News Headlines
- Alcohol addiction team wants higher energy drink prices
- Mixing alcohol with caffeine-rich energy beverages is a trend that is continuing to rise in Canada, despite repeated warnings that the combination is unsafe, a new report warns. more »
- How curry spice helps the immune system kill bacteria
- A spice used in curry dishes helps to prevent infection and now scientists think they've got a lead on how. more »
- Calgary EMS station opens to the public
- Curious Calgarians got a look at a northwest EMS station this morning. more »
- Yellowknife toddlers catching hand, foot and mouth virus
- An outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease in Yellowknife is causing many toddlers and their parents some major discomfort. more »
FEATURED HEALTH
- Teen struck by lightning in Ottawa dies
- Missing Winnipeg children found in Mexico
- Quebec tornadoes cause millions in damage
- Montreal protesters march in peaceful defiance
- Syria massacre toll up to 108, UN monitor says
- Woman's remains found in hockey bag on Cape Breton river
- Everest team unable to bring down Toronto woman's body
- WWE apologizes to Brazil over Canadian's flag stomp
- Pope's butler arrested in Vatican leaks scandal
