Patients And Staff Treated For MRSA At UPMC Children's Hospital
PITTSBURGH (KDKA)--The source of the MRSA cases at UPMC Children's Hospital was most likely a visitor. That's according to officials from Children's Hospital and the Allegheny County Health Department.
Diane Hupt, Vice President Chief Nursing Officer, Children's Hospital and Kristen Mertz, Allegheny County Health Department Epidemiolgist met with reporters Tuesday afternoon.
The 12 people testing positive for MRSA are six babies in the neonatal intensive care unit and six hospital workers. None of the babies who tested positive is showing signs of infection, according to Hupt, and there's no public health threat.
MRSA is a type of bacteria that is resistant to most antibiotics.
Hupt says it's business as usual at Children's Hospital and patient care has not been affected. People seemed to move freely in and out earlier today.
In general settings the bacteria can cause skin infections, but in a healthcare environment like a hospital it can cause bloodstream infections, pneumonia or surgical site infections.
UPMC released this statement: "The health and safety of our patients, staff and visitors is our highest priority. We are doing everything we can do to care for them. UPMC always follows CDC guidelines and isolation protocols and infection control procedures are in place".
The Allegheny County Health Department has also been notified as well as the State Department of Health.
Generally, someone infected with MRSA stays infected for just under ten days.
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