COMMUNICATIONS

Hospital Takes Precautions Against MRSA

Infection control precautions are being taken at The Princess Margaret Hospital, following positive identification of MRSA in two patients and one staff member on one ward.

All staff and patients on the ward are now being screened for MRSA and will be proactively treated.

MRSA is short for Methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The bacteria Staphylococcus aureus is often found in the nose or on the skin of healthy people, causing them no harm. Infections from this bacteria can be effectively treated with a range of antibiotics.

MRSA is however a type of Staphylococcus aureus that has become resistant to many of the antiobiotics commonly used to treat an infection. While it is generally harmless for healthy people, it can cause infections that are hard to treat in people that are already unwell.

CDHB Chief Medical Officer Nigel Millar said, “MRSA is endemic in some hospitals but not in Canterbury and the CDHB works hard to keep it from patients.”

All families of patients from the ward are being notified of the situation when they visit.

ENDS