NIAGARA, ON.: An outbreak of MRSA at Port Colborne General Site’s 2 West floor has been declared over.
“I would like to thank the public for its support and co-operation with our infection prevention and control measures,” says Kim Stephens-Woods, Vice President responsible for infection prevention and control at the Niagara Health System. “I would also like to thank all of our staff and doctors for their teamwork and ongoing diligence and commitment. They routinely go above and beyond to ensure patients receive the best possible care while also managing the new norm of infection prevention and control measures.”
The MRSA outbreak was declared on 2 West on July 27, 2011, and declared over on Tuesday, August 30, 2011. An outbreak may be declared over when there are no new cases and the number of cases has returned to the baseline level.
Throughout the outbreak period, the NHS’s Infection Prevention and Control team worked closely with the larger NHS healthcare team as well as with Niagara Region Public Health.
Staphylococcus aureus is a germ that lives on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy people. Occasionally S. aureus can cause an infection. When S. aureus develops resistance to certain antibiotics, it is called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. MRSA is spread from one person to another by contact, usually on the hands.
“Good hand hygiene is vital in preventing the spread of superbugs, and our staff will continue to go above and beyond the industry’s infection prevention and control standards,” says Mrs. Stephens-Woods. “I cannot emphasize enough the importance of all visitors practicing good hand hygiene when coming to any of our hospital sites.”
