Superbug cases in Dunedin
Six people have tested positive to an antibiotic-resistant bacteria while in Dunedin Hospital.
The latest case involved a person who screened positive for vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE).
In March, five patients at Dunedin Hospital tested positive for VRE, and all six affected people had been isolated while in hospital.
The bacteria was found in or on the patients’ bodies, but none had developed an infection.
Chief medical officer Dr Nigel Millar said it was the first time VRE had been identified in a Southern District Health Board facility, and he was confident the issue had been contained.
VRE stemmed from the overuse of antibiotics, he said.
‘‘We need to reduce antibiotic resistance by monitoring the use of antibiotics, prescribe antibiotics correctly and aim to reduce overall use.’’ Everyone had a role to play in reducing antibiotic use, including health professionals and patients, he said.
‘‘There is international concern that if we fail to stem this problem we will have common infections resistant to all available antibiotics.’’ WHAT IS VRE? Enterococcus are generally harmless bacteria, which live in the intestines of most people. It can occasionally cause infections in the urinary tract, bloodstream, or wounds, and can become a very serious problem if it resists commonly-used antibiotics. HOW IS IT TREATED? Enterococcus infections are often treated with an antibiotic called Vancomycin. Over the years, some strains of enterococci have become resistant to vancomycin. These are called Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE).
There are other antibiotics that will work but these are limited. The course of treatment is determined by testing different antibiotics in the laboratory to determine which ones might be most effective against the infectious strain. HOW DOES VRE SPREAD? VRE usually spreads from person to person by direct contact. Sometimes VRE spreads by contaminated surfaces (toilet seats, taps, door handles). VRE is not spread through the air by coughing or sneezing.
Services listed in a tabloid earlier this week had some times wrong. Ryal Bush will be at 10am, at Wyndham people should assemble at 8.45am in the town square and ceremony will be 9am at the war memorial, Edendale starts at 8am and Woodlands at 8.30am.