Canary Islands - Warning issued to tourists over antibiotic resistant bacteria (Klebsiella OXA-48)

[Gert van der Hoek]

• 17 JUL 2018

Warning issued to Canary Islands tourists over deadly bacteria which can cause pneumonia, meningitis and blood poisoning

Irish tourists heading on holiday to the Canary Islands have been warned to be vigilant after an outbreak of a deadly bug which can cause pneumonia, meningitis and blood poisoning.

Health chiefs are urging holidaymakers to look out for signs of illness after 13 people fell ill so far this year.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) shared a warning on their website about the risks associated with the bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae.

This bacteria normally lives in human intestines and is usually not harmful. However, if it travels to another body part, it can cause serious illness.

Those who are at particular risk include alcoholics, people with cancer, diabetes, kidney failure, liver and lung disease, The Irish Sun reports.


location of Canary Islands - wikipedia

[Gert van der Hoek]

Carbapenemase-producing (OXA-48) Klebsiella pneumoniae ST392 found in travellers previously hospitalised in Gran Canaria, Spain

Thirteen patients with OXA-48-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST392 have been reported by Sweden and Norway between January and April 2018 - all returning travellers with prior hospital admission in Gran Canaria. Whole genome sequencing showed tight clustering between the bacterial isolates from the cases.

According to ECDC?s risk assessment published today, the risk for individual travellers to acquire OXA-48-producing K. pneumoniae ST392 of the Gran Canaria cluster without healthcare contact is very low. However, if carriers of the bacteria are admitted to a hospital in their country of origin, there is a high risk for further transmission and outbreaks if carriage is not detected and if adequate infection prevention and control measures are not in place.

Whole genome sequencing analysis indicates a common place of acquisition for the cases. Given the large number of tourists visiting Gran Canaria, one hospital may become the source of spread to other European countries when patients are transferred from one country to another, making this cluster a cross-border threat, states the report.