Superbug infection cases reach 13 at Edinburgh hospital

Thirteen patients at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary have contracted the potentially fatal superbug MRSA, health officials said yesterday.

Surgery at the hospital's cardiothoracic unit was suspended after nine cases of the infection were confirmed on Wednesday. Four other patients were said to be carrying the organism but had not yet developed symptoms.

MRSA, or methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, is known as the superbug because it is resistant to treatment with commonly used antibiotics. It can cause ailments ranging from boils to infections of the bone or heart.

A spokesman for Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust said it was investigating the source of the bacteria, which was first noticed when more patients than usual devel-oped post-operation infections.

"The infection control team is working closely with clinicians and the Public Health Department of NHS Lothian to manage the situation and to ensure the safety and well-being of patients.

"Early indications suggest that there is no single cause for this level of infection."

MRSA has been a growing problem in hospitals worldwide. But earlier this week, Malcolm Chisholm, the Scottish Health Minister, claimed the risk of being infected by a superbug in hospital was "small" and pointed to the publication of new figures on hospital-acquired infections.

Data collected from 18 hospital trusts across Scotland showed the incidence rate of MRSA blood infections in hospitals ranged from zero to 0.25 infections per 1,000 bed days.

The figures, compiled by the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health, were contained in the first quarterly report on MRSA in NHS Scotland.

The minister said the figures on MRSA would serve as the "benchmark" for tackling the superbug and other infections linked to healthcare.

Yesterday Mr Chisholm called for an urgent report from the Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust to establish that "everything possible was being done" to control the spread of MRSA.