The Lakeshore General Hospital has been hit by four outbreaks of the same antibiotic-resistant strain of bacteria this year, raising concerns that infection-control measures are not being followed, according to an article on the Montreal Gazette.
The number of patients who became carriers of the superbug — known as vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) — surged this spring, with 66 individuals testing positive for VRE since April 1. The majority of those who test positive never develop a VRE infection, but they can spread the superbug to already frail patients who could then become severely infected. In extremely rare cases, a VRE infection can be fatal, the article said.
The hospital has undertaken a cleaning blitz in the past two weeks while raising awareness in staff and visitors about the importance of hand-washing.
Dr. Renée Paré, an expert on hospital-acquired infections at the department, said hospitals that have common patient rooms and shared bathrooms are vulnerable to outbreaks.
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