"Superbug" hits Wellington Hospital's neonatal unit
2/5/2005 11:46
The ninth baby in Wellington Hospital tested positive to staphylococcus
Saturday has put the neonatal unit in a new strain in society's fear of more
death following three tolls this year.
All babies in the neonatal unit were
screened for the staphylococcus, called locally the "superbug", over the
weekend.
Three dozen babies have been infected with the "superbug" this year
and three have subsequently died, Capital and Coast District health Board
revealed last week.
Born 15 weeks early, tiny Alex was in an incubator at
Wellington Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit until the final hours of her
six-day life. She died two weeks ago of blood poisoning caused by the
staphylococcus aureus.
Despite the two previous deaths caused by
staphylococcus in the unit, Hunt, the baby's mom, told local newspaper the
Sunday Star Time she was told nothing of the risk the bacterium posed to her
baby.
But Hunt said she has no plans to take action against the hospital,
saying her daughter always faced a struggle to survive and that the staff in the
hospital did their best.
Wellington hospital admitted Saturday it could have
communicated better about the outbreak after some parents of vulnerable babies
expressed disappointment they were not told until last week.
The hospital
said all the newborns are being accommodated in three parts, being graded red,
orange and green by level of infection. Currently nine babies are in the red
area, the isolated unit for babies known to the infected the
"superbug".
Wellington Hospital's microbiologist Dr Mark Jones said Saturday
the newly infected infant was transferred to the red area from the orange, which
normally houses babies might have been contacted with the organism.
The eight
infected babies have been isolated and treated with antibiotics, said Mark
Jones, adding the disease is fatal to infant but usually has not so much hazard
to the adult.
It was not surprising the bug was found in the unit but the
strain was unique and there would be international interest in how it evolved,
said Mark Jone.
The staphylococcus is carried by about a third of all New
Zealand without showing signs of infection.
Fifteen nurses of the hospital
have contracted the infection and six were asked to stay at home temporarily.
The hospital said the nurses and their would not be in risk. There are currently
no risk of community spreading as well for the "superbug" being only tested in
the unit, said the hospital.
Mark Jones admitted that the hospital's neonatal
unit is now facing staff shortage, and had cut admission to avoid further
infection.
He said it would take about a month to clear the nurses of the
infection.
"That month is made up of a week of treatment of the nurses
carrying it and three weeks to assess weather they have got rid of it," said
Mark Jones.
Xinhua
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