Six people have now tested positive for an antibiotic-resistant bacteria at Dunedin Hospital, the Southern DHB has confirmed.
It said bacteria is vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) and patients had the bacteria but had not become ill.
Last month, the Otago Daily Times reported that five patients recently admitted to Dunedin Hospital had VRE.
The patients have been isolated while in hospital and the DHB is continuing with "enhanced infection prevention and control protocols in the areas where affected" the DHB said today.
"The majority of the large number of screening results have now come back and it appears that the infection has been contained thanks to the hard work of our staff."
It was the first time that VRE had been identified in a Southern DHB facility. It had, however, been an increasing problem in other district health boards throughout New Zealand and worldwide over the past few years.
Chief medical officer Dr Nigel Millar said: "VRE stems from the overuse of antibiotics and we need to reduce antibiotic resistance by monitoring the use of antibiotics, prescribe antibiotics correctly and aim to reduce overall use.
"We have all have a role to play in reducing substantially our use of antibiotics and that includes health professionals and patients.
"There is international concern that if we fail to stem this problem we will have common infections resistant to all available antibiotics."
