Ulster Hospital 'on top' of bug

Published Sunday, 29 January 2012
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The Director of Nursing at the Ulster Hospital has reassured parents they are acting swiftly after Pseudomonas was found in some water outlets at the neonatal intensive care unit.

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The infection claimed the lives of three babies at the Royal Jubilee Maternity hospital in January, and one baby at Altnagelvin Hospital in December.

Babies in the Ulster Hospital's intensive care unit were tested for Pseudomonas and results show none of them have the active infection.

Director of Nursing, Charlotte McArdle told UTV: "We've found some presence of Pseudomonas in a small number of water outlets within in the neonatal unit, but there's no contact between that water supply and the babies.

"We are fully on top of this outbreak."

Any water that comes into contact with the babies is sterile and "stringent infection control measures" are being carried out.

All staff and parents who come into the unit are washing their hands and then using gel which eradicates the infection.

"We've replaced one of those taps with a new tap and there's a programme of ongoing tap replacement over the next few days within the unit," said Ms McArdle.

She also confirmed there is no risk to babies who have already been discharged from the unit.

© UTV News
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2 Comments
Sam Brannigan in belfast wrote (115 days ago):
Maybe if visitors didnt visit hospitals when they had colds and illnesses these bugs wouldnt get a chance.I have been a patient in hospital many times and have seen total disregard for hygiene in wards from visitors.And why do patients need six or more visitors when the hospital states no more than two DURING visiting time?
Paul in Co. Antrim wrote (115 days ago):
Pseudomonas is a very common bug. I wouldn't be surprised if it was not at times present in every tap in the country!
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