Six cases of MRSA confirmed at Island hospital

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) is reporting one additional confirmed case of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the affected nursing unit to six. These cases are contained to Unit 8, a medical ward at the hospital.

"Results from intensive screening of all patients in the unit revealed the sixth case; however, they also confirmed that all remaining patients on the unit are negative for MRSA," said Dr. Rosemary Henderson, medical director for the QEH. "We also received strain typing results from the first two confirmed cases, which indicate that the MRSA strains are unrelated. We anticipate receiving the results from the remaining four confirmed cases later in the week."

Patients testing positive for MRSA have been isolated to one wing of the nursing unit. Additional screening of all patients is planned for early next week.

Visitor restrictions to the nursing unit remain in place and include:
• Only two (2) visitors at a time per patient - immediate family only
• No persons under the age of 18 permitted
• Compassionate exceptions will be made on an individual patient basis, in consultation with the patient and their health care team

"MRSA is common to most hospitals," said Henderson. "Islanders should not worry about coming to the hospital for tests or to visit loved ones; however, it is very important that everyone clean their hands before and after entering a patient's room."

MRSA is a bacteria that is resistant to certain types of antibiotics. These bacteria are most commonly spread by direct and also indirect contact via hands. Patients who test positive for these antibiotic resistant bacteria can either be colonized or infected. Colonization occurs when the bacteria lives on one or more body sites with no signs and symptoms of illness. Infection occurs when the bacteria gets past a person's normal defenses and the individual becomes ill.