MRSA Outbreak Over at St. Mary's

Outbreak of MRSA Declared Over at St. Mary’s General Hospital

Kitchener, ON (June 7, 2010) – An outbreak of MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureas) on the fifth floor medicine unit at St. Mary’s General Hospital has been declared over.

Patients who were free of MRSA at the start of the outbreak have been tested twice and remain free of the organism. Since there has been no new transmission since the outbreak was declared on June 2, the outbreak is declared over effective immediately.

Staff and physicians will continue to be vigilant, with enhanced precautions in place for several days. Anyone who is in contact with patients in the affected area will continue to wear gowns and gloves and enhanced cleaning will be carried out.

Visitor restrictions have been lifted, but visitors are reminded to use hand sanitizer upon entering and exiting the rooms and the affected area.

St. Mary’s declared the outbreak after five patients were found to be carrying MRSA on their skin. No infections developed as a result of the outbreak. Two or more cases occurring within a 48-hour period constitutes an outbreak.

Staphylococcus aureus is a germ that lives on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy people. Occasionally, S. aureus can cause an infection. When S. aureus develops resistance to certain antibiotics, it is called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.