One of the five Dunedin Hospital patients who contracted a superbug may have picked it up in a rest-home, the Southern District Health Board has confirmed.
Chief medical officer Dr Nigel Millar said three of the five patients with antibiotic-resistant bacteria had spent time in a ‘‘local rest-home'' as well as Dunedin Hospital.
‘‘It is possible, but not certain, that one cross-infection occurred in the rest-home.''
Infection-prevention experts were working with the rest-home to minimise the risk of cross-infection, he said.
‘‘It is always hard to determine the place or means of cross-infection, because we do not know the onset of colonisation, which could be for a considerable time.
‘‘However, we believe that the majority of the cross-infection has occurred in Dunedin Hospital,'' Dr Millar said.
The bacteria is vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE), and none of the patients had become ill as a result of carrying the superbug.
There had been no further positive tests for VRE, despite a large number of patients being screened.
‘‘The process is continuing, but this is very encouraging and indicates that it is unlikely there has been wider cross-infection.
‘‘It should be noted that none of the patients are suffering an infection and merely carry the bug.''
The board first made the issue public in a statement last Friday.
On Friday, Dr Millar said there was no particular reason for VRE-carrying patients to be kept in hospital.
