Patient was killed by an infection in hospital ICU
Bosses ‘red flag’ outbreak
A PATIENT died following an infection outbreak in an intensive care unit, it has been revealed.
Official documents show there were two cases of the MDRO ( multi- drug resi stant) infection pseudomonas aeruginosa at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
The cases were “red flagged” by health bosses last month, the most serious outbreak category.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde confirmed one of the patients had contracted the bug due to “cross contamination” in the intensive care unit.
The health board said one patient, who had serious underlying health conditions, had died during the outbreak, but did not issue further details.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa rarely affects healthy patients and can cause a wide range of infections, particularly in people with a weakened immune system.
In hospit a l s , the organism can contaminate devices that are left inside the body, such as respiratory equipment and catheters.
Some varieties of the bug are said to be resistant to nearly all antibiotics.
P r o f e s s o r Hu g h Pennington, Emeritus Professor of Bacteriology at Aberdeen University, added: “It is an ICU pest when it contaminates equipment and has been a significant problem, preCovid, for patients being ventilated.”
NHSGGC said blood cultures had detected a typing match between the affected patients.
A spokeswoman for NHSGGC said: “We have strict infection prevention and control procedures in place and all staff follow national guidance.
“These incidents have been reported to our board as part of our robust m a n a g eme n t and governance of infection prevention and control processes in our hospitals.”