CAY HILL:--- Several patients of the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) is said to have picked up a bacteria (infection) known as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). According to reliable sources, these patients contracted the infection while in hospital and they most likely got infected in the operating room of SMMC. SMN News learnt that a premature baby contracted the infection and tests were conducted on the cribs for premature babies but no traces of MRSA were found. Another source said that several patients have been having unusual fevers and tests are being conducted in the operationing rooms to see if traces of the bacteria can be found in there.
The exact amount of patients that contracted the infection which was described as being a deadly infection is not yet known. It should be noted that so far there is no specific antibiotic that can treat or eliminate MRSA completely.
SMN News brought forward this information because just over a year ago an employee of the operating room tested positive for MRSA and had to be isolated for more than two weeks in order to stop the infection from spreading. Besides that, there are a number of patients that currently have unusual fevers at SMMC. While MRSA is a dangerous infection, it is quite known to medical professionals that this strain of bacteria is found in several medical institution and not only at SMMC.
SMN News contacted the public relations officer of SMMC with specific questions about patients having MRSA and the hospital responded by stating that after doing some research within the hospital they must state that the information SMN News obtained is incorrect. The statement from SMMC further states that The St. Maarten Medical Center is always taking measures to ensure patient safety.
"We do routine checks to detect micro-organisms that are resistant to antibiotics, such as MRSA. We do not have any patients diagnosed with MRSA. Neither have there been any alerts of infection in our operating room."
MRSA --- Information on the bacteria and its effects.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is caused by a strain of staph bacteria that's become resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat ordinary staph infections.
Most MRSA infections occur in people who've been in hospitals or other health care settings, such as nursing homes and dialysis centers. When it occurs in these settings, it's known as health care-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA). HA-MRSA infections typically are associated with invasive procedures or devices, such as surgeries, intravenous tubing or artificial joints.
Another type of MRSA infection has occurred in the wider community — among healthy people. This form, community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA), often begins as a painful skin boil. It's spread by skin-to-skin contact. At-risk populations include groups such as high school wrestlers, child care workers and people who live in crowded conditions.
