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Montreal hospital battles bacteria outbreak
Posted: December 30, 2009, 10:33 AM by Gillian Grace
Canwest News Service
MONTREAL ? A fourth-floor wing at Lakeshore General Hospital in Montreal will remain closed to new patients until next week.
Visits to patients on the medical floor will be restricted, hospital officials announced Tuesday.
The hospital is battling an outbreak of hospital-borne bacterial infections that are resistant to antibiotics ? specifically, Vancomycin-resistant enterococci, known as VRE.
Seven patients have been identified as carriers of VRE, said Marie-Josee Labrosse, a spokesperson for the hospital.
Enterococcus-type bacteria are commonly found in human intestines. The bacteria do not usually cause illness in healthy people, but can lead to urinary and wound infections in those with a weakened immune system.
Last week, the hospital posted a guard on the floor. Cleaning crews washed down walls and disinfected rooms.
(Photo: Lakeshore General Hospital in Pointe-Claire, Montreal; photo by THE GAZETTE/Dave Sidaway)
Read more: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2009/12/30/montreal-hospital-battles-bacteria-outbreak.aspx#ixzz0bCCmU3BN
Posted: December 30, 2009, 10:33 AM by Gillian Grace
Canwest News Service
MONTREAL ? A fourth-floor wing at Lakeshore General Hospital in Montreal will remain closed to new patients until next week.
Visits to patients on the medical floor will be restricted, hospital officials announced Tuesday.
The hospital is battling an outbreak of hospital-borne bacterial infections that are resistant to antibiotics ? specifically, Vancomycin-resistant enterococci, known as VRE.
Seven patients have been identified as carriers of VRE, said Marie-Josee Labrosse, a spokesperson for the hospital.
Enterococcus-type bacteria are commonly found in human intestines. The bacteria do not usually cause illness in healthy people, but can lead to urinary and wound infections in those with a weakened immune system.
Last week, the hospital posted a guard on the floor. Cleaning crews washed down walls and disinfected rooms.
(Photo: Lakeshore General Hospital in Pointe-Claire, Montreal; photo by THE GAZETTE/Dave Sidaway)
Read more: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2009/12/30/montreal-hospital-battles-bacteria-outbreak.aspx#ixzz0bCCmU3BN