Published Date: 2012-01-31 11:55:44
Subject: PRO/EAFR> Staph. aureus (MRSA), nosocomial - Ghana: (Accra)
Archive Number: 20120131.241787

STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS (MRSA), NOSOCOMIAL - GHANA (ACCRA)
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A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org

Date: Tue 31 Jan 2012
Source: Joy News [edited]
http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201201/80725.php


Health authorities at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital are battling to
contain the outbreak of deadly bacteria, methicillin-resistant
_Staphylococcus aureus_ (MRSA). It is not clear if the infection,
which has led to the closure of the children's emergency ward, caused
the death of 3 kids in the children's ward.

Although hospital authorities say 5 children have been infected, they
are unable to confirm if they died of the bacteria. Joy News'
Jefferson Sackey reported from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital that
doctors fear other wards in the hospital could be infected and are
leaving nothing to chance.

The 1st strain of the bacteria was detected a week-and-a-half ago in
a single patient and has so far been identified in 4 more patients.
Jefferson Sackey reported that the macrobiotics department has been
holding crunch meetings to find ways of containing the "dangerous"
bacteria.

Though the antibiotic for treating the bacteria is very expensive, he
said, the hospital says it has obtained the antibiotics and is
treating the infected patients. Meanwhile, authorities at the Korle
Bu Teaching Hospital held a news conference at the hospital on Monday
[30 Jan 2012] to brief journalists on the disease.

Hospitals have been advised not to refer children to Korle Bu until
further notice. But it looks more likely the ward would not be opened
anytime soon, Sackey observed.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-EAFR
<promed-eafr@promedmail.org>

[Methicillin-resistant_Staphylococcus aureus_, (MRSA) is a deadly
bloodstream infection resistant to treatment with most available
antibiotics. MRSA is a common hospital-acquired infection but
determining this requires screening of patients on admission and
among patients who develop new infections after admission. Such
infections manifest within 48 hours following admission or even
immediately following discharge from hospital. It is therefore
critical to determine if the cases reported here are community or
hospital acquired as this will have implications on controlling and
preventing further infections.

A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Ghana can be seen at
http://healthmap.org/r/1oA-. - Mod. JFW]

[Background information on MRSA is available from the general
ProMED-mail list. The postings below can be found at
http://www.promedmail.org. - Mod.JFW]

[2011
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Staph. aureus (MRSA), comm acq - Canada: (BC) rower 20110812.2452
2010
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S. aureus (MRSA), USA300 - Isle of Man 20101226.4550
2008
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Staph. aureus (MRSA), nosocomial - UK (England) 20080427.1455
Staph. aureus (MRSA), comm. acq., MSM - USA: (MA, CA) 20080119.0232
2007
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Staph. aureus (MRSA), human, porcine - Canada, USA 20071109.3640
Staph. aureus (MRSA), comm. acq., human, equine - Canada 20070108.0076
2005
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Staph. aureus (MRSA), community acq., tattoos - USA (VT)(02) 20050824.2507
Staph. aureus (MRSA), community acq. - UK (ENGLAND): 2003-4 20050524.1431
Staph. aureus (MRSA), community acq. - USA (MI) 20050412.1051
and older items in the archives]
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