Infection outbreak at Mater Dei Hospital

Eight patients were identified within the Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU); most of these were cases of colonisation in which the microbe was present on the body of the patient without causing any symptoms of infection, the Ministry said in a statement.

Three other similar cases were identified in surgical wards from clinical samples.

Like other antibiotic resistant hospital infections, these strains (also known as KPC) are transmitted primarily by contact. As a result, all cases have been isolated to help in containing the organism whilst targeted screening has been in place in order to identify carriers early and ensure that they are managed expediently to avoid both transmission to other patients as well as the development of infection.

The most important precaution relates to ensuring that all health care workers pay even greater and more stringent attention to basic infection control precautions, namely diligently performing hand hygiene before and after every patient contact, as well as after any contact with the patient’s immediate environment.

“The outbreak has no impact on patient admission and discharge, nor on visitors to the hospital,” the Health Ministry assured.