Link: sundaymail
A PROBE has been launched into an abnormally high number of MRSA cases in one of Scotland’s biggest hospitals. Seven patients have fallen victim to the potentially deadly superbug at St John’s Hospital, Livingston.
The bug struck in the accident and emergency ward, as well as the rehabilitation and acute care for the elderly units.
Now health chiefs have started an internal inquiry. St John’s will remain open during the probe.
Figures released by Health Protection Scotland (HPS) show the hospital broke MRSA standards between October and December 2004.
Yesterday, Dr Jacqui Reilly, a consultant epidemiologist with HPS, said: ‘We have alerted the hospital and they are looking into the matter.
‘If a ward exceeds its upper control limit, then that means they have a higher than expected rate of infection for that period.
‘There are a number of reasons for this. One of these may be a need to look at patient care practices.’
She added: ‘A change in the type of patient coming into a ward can effect the figures. If you get patients who are more susceptible to contracting MRSA, then the figures can go up.’
Asked about the decision to keep the hospital open, HPS expertProfessor David Goldberg, said: ‘I’m not aware of closures having to be made as a result of just exceeding a standard.
‘If we were to do that, I think we would close down the health service.’
