Superbug hits S'pore hospital<\/p>\n
All non-emergency surgery has been canceled at Singapore's top
\nhospital, where 15 patients have been hit by a drug-resistant
\nstrain of bacteria, but the public was urged on Saturday not to
\nbecome alarmed.<\/p>\n
Singapore General Hospital (SGH) said it is testing another
\n933 patients who may have come into contact with vancomycin-
\nresistant enterococci (VRE). It does not cause disease in healthy
\npeople.<\/p>\n
\"We are taking aggressive steps to ensure that the VRE does
\nnot become entrenched in this hospital\" and for that matter in
\nother institutions, said Professor Tay Boon Keng, chairman of the
\nmedical board.<\/p>\n
The cancellation of elective surgery starting on Monday and
\nannounced on late Friday will allow the hospital \"greater
\nmaneuverability\" should it need to isolate more patients, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
VRE is a threat to people with weak immune systems such as
\nthose suffering from cancer or kidney failure, said Dr. Asok
\nKumar, an internal medicine consultant. It can be fatal in such
\ncases.<\/p>\n
The stools of all patients at the facility are being screened
\nfor the bacteria commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract.
\nOf the 15 carriers found at SGH, only one has been infected, a
\ndiabetic who has had a leg amputated.<\/p>\n
Vancomycin is a powerful antibiotic that doctors often regard
\nas a last-resort drug to eliminate bacterial infections.<\/p>\n
The 15 have been found since March 9, Tay said. Some patients
\nwho have left the hospital will need to be tested for the
\nbacteria, which is spread through direct contact with an infected
\nperson, usually by the hands or an open wound.<\/p>\n
The identities of the people carrying the bug will be
\ncirculated to all hospitals and nursing homes in case they are
\nadmitted elsewhere.<\/p>\n
SGH will bear the cost of treatment for those who have caught
\nVRE at the hospital, which ranges between S$200 (US$123) to $800
\na day.<\/p>\n
Signs have been put up along the hospital's corridors
\nreminding patients, visitors and staff to wash their hands.
\nVisitors have been restricted to two per patient.<\/p>\n
VRE was first reported in the United States in the late 1980s
\nand has become a major cause of hospital-acquired infections in
\nthe U.S.<\/p>\n
The 15 hit here comprise the largest cluster of VRE ever
\nidentified in the city-state. The previous high was six cases
\nlast year, also at SGH.<\/p>\n
Patients who have the bacteria may be infectious for several
\nmonths. -- DPA<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/superbug-hits-spore-hospital-1447893297",
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