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Deadly virus strikes at the Glynnwood Hospital

As of October 14, nine patients at Life The Glynnwood Hospital were confirmed to be either carriers of, or infected with, New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase 1 (NDM-1), which produces Klebsiella pneumonia.

Two of the nine patients recently died at the hospital, possibly due to an antibiotic resistance bacteria.

On Thursday, October 13, news broke that the hospital had quarantined the remaining infected patients in the ICU, fearing further outbreaks of the disease.

According to Prof Adriano Duse, Head of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control at Wits University, who went out to assess the situation at the Glynnwood, the two patients had serious illnesses when they arrived at the hospital.

He said this might have been the primary cause of their deaths, but he is not ruling out the NDM1 bacteria as a cause.

Of the remaining seven patients, three are still receiving treatment at the hospital and four have been sent home to recover.

NDM-1 is an enzyme produced by certain bacteria that makes them resistant to a broad range of antibiotics, named after New Delhi, the capital city of India.

It was first noted in 2009, but infections by bacteria producing NDM-1 enzyme have since been reported all over the world, including the UK, USA, Pakistan, Canada, Australia and Japan.

Kenya was the first African country to report this specific enzyme in bacteria, followed recently by Morocco.

In South Africa, only two other cases of infections caused by NDM-1 producing bacteria have been reported recently.

On identifying the outbreak, the hospital implemented additional infection prevention and control interventions.

“The hospital’s swift and thorough actions enabled early identification of the outbreak and contained the spread of this highly drug-resistant bacterium,” said Dr Steve Taylor, medical director for Life Healthcare.

"The outbreak continues to be monitored very closely.

"We have also highlighted the importance of the judicious use of antibiotics in all patients admitted to ICU and High Care."

According to the hospital's marketing manager, Elbett Bole, everything is under control; patients who contracted the bacteria have all been treated.

All patients admitted to the ICU and High Care units at the hospital are being screened for Klebsiella NDM-1 and follow-up screening is being conducted on a weekly basis.

All hospital staff have also been screened.

"This is a drug-resistant bacteria and it is very hard to treat a patient once they are infected with it," said Duse.

"This virus was first discovered in New Deli India, through laboratory tests and research.

"I am very impressed with the Glynnwood Hospital, as they have called international and local experts to curb the outbreak and assess the situation"Until now, most patients infected with NDM-1 producing bacteria could be traced back to subjects who had recently visited India or received medical treatment there.

NDM-1 producing bacteria are highly transmissible, particularly in healthcare settings, and their early recognition, as well as the application of rigorous infection prevention and control precautions are crucial to contain outbreaks caused by these organisms.

These organisms are highly resistant to most available antibiotics but, fortunately, there are still a few drugs available that can be used to treat them.

Super-bakterie eis 3 se lewe aan die Oos-Rand
2011-10-17 21:54


Antoinette Pienaar

Minstens drie mense is dood nadat ’n uiters weerstandige bakterie ’n groep mense in ’n private hospitaal aan die Oos-Rand besmet het.

Die NDM-1-bakterie (Nieu Delhi metallo-7-lactamase 1) is vir die eerste keer in 2009 in Nieu-Delhi, Indië, geïsoleer en vermoedelik deur iemand na Suid-Afrika gedra.

Die kiem het volgens die Life-hospitaalgroep die laaste paar weke tien mense in die Glynnwood-hospitaal in Benoni besmet.

Die Nasionale Instituut vir Oordraagbare Siektes (Nios) het in ’n verklaring gesê dit was meestal pasiënte wat lank in die hospitaal was en dus ’n groter risiko geloop het vir besmetting.

Die oorledenes het glo ook ernstige onderliggende siektes gehad.

Volgens Life is die pasiënte dadelik geïsoleer om te keer dat dit verder versprei. Minstens vier van die siekes is reeds ontslaan.

Volgens die Nios kan baie soorte bakterieë die vermoë ontwikkel om die geen vir NDM-1-ensiem aan te skakel wat dit weerstandig maak teen antibiotika.

Dr. Olga Perovic van die Nios het bevestig dié een is ’n Klebsiella NDM-1 en beperk tot die hospitaalgevalle.

Dit is weerstandig teen ’n breë spektrum van beta-laktaam-antibiotika. Laasgenoemde sluit die karbepenem-groep antibiotika in wat hoofsaaklik gebruik word om weerstandige bakteriële infeksies te behandel.

Dié medisyne word reeds net gebruik vir baie ernstige infeksies en sluit penisillien in