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Source: http://www.edmontonsun.com/2012/05/18/patient-dead-as-ahs-probes-suspected-outbreak
Patient dead as AHS probes suspected outbreak
By Aaron Taylor
First posted: Friday, May 18, 2012 07:16 PM MDT | Updated: Saturday, May 19, 2012 01:54 AM MDT
Alberta Health Services is investigating the death of a Royal Alexandra Hospital patient who came into contact with a traveller who may have been infected with two types of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Health officials suspect the bacteria could have also spread to four other patients who are not showing any signs of illness.
?These types of bacteria are common in many places in the world, but not in Canada,? said Dr. Mark Joffe, an AHS senior medical director for infections prevention and control.
?Recently we?ve seen an introduction of these in a hospital in Edmonton.?
One of these bacterium has been identified as acinetobacter ? a type of bacteria that?s resistant to many antibiotic treatments.
This was made worse by the presence of the second bacteria, which carried New Delhi Metallobetalactamase ? a gene that produces enzymes that break down antibiotics.
That gene made the bacteria resistant a broad spectrum of antibiotics.
Health officials also believe the traveller may have been infected with the two types of bacteria after getting surgery overseas...
Patient dead as AHS probes suspected outbreak
By Aaron Taylor
First posted: Friday, May 18, 2012 07:16 PM MDT | Updated: Saturday, May 19, 2012 01:54 AM MDT
Alberta Health Services is investigating the death of a Royal Alexandra Hospital patient who came into contact with a traveller who may have been infected with two types of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Health officials suspect the bacteria could have also spread to four other patients who are not showing any signs of illness.
?These types of bacteria are common in many places in the world, but not in Canada,? said Dr. Mark Joffe, an AHS senior medical director for infections prevention and control.
?Recently we?ve seen an introduction of these in a hospital in Edmonton.?
One of these bacterium has been identified as acinetobacter ? a type of bacteria that?s resistant to many antibiotic treatments.
This was made worse by the presence of the second bacteria, which carried New Delhi Metallobetalactamase ? a gene that produces enzymes that break down antibiotics.
That gene made the bacteria resistant a broad spectrum of antibiotics.
Health officials also believe the traveller may have been infected with the two types of bacteria after getting surgery overseas...