Kerala: Medical college staff, patients threatened by drug Resistant MRSA

Kochi: A patient carrying methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria has been admitted to the Government Medical College hospital, Ernakulam, The admission endangers patients and staff at the College. The Hospital Infection Control Committee formed two months ago and not in a position to place a tough infection control system, is removing all possible hurdles in the way of averting the spread of infection.

Setting aside fears, Hospital Superintendent Dr. Anil Kumar told the Hindu, that the organism was found only in one person, who was being kept in an isolation ward, after having undergone surgery for Osteomyelitis. A referral from another hospital, the patient was recovering well.

Commonly used antibiotics are ineffective in the case of the MRSA, which is resistant to most of them. Spreading through contact, MRSA can cause mild to serious infection.

Precautions to be taken by staff include using gloves and masks; washing hands before and after handling patients

Patients at hospitals with catheters and other invasive devices and surgical wounds are susceptible to infections.Two operation theaters at the hospital faced closure, due to the presence of MRSA found in the culture results of patients admitted. Some staff members were also found to be carriers. The operation theaters were later made operational, after necessary precautions having been .