This implied that the bugs had survived in the ward either on staff or other patients.Many of the bacteria were resistant to a variety of antibiotics. A total of 14 individuals had either passed on a bacterial strain to another patient, or received one from another patient. In one case, bacteria appeared to have passed from one patient to another who was only admitted after the first was discharged. These are the third most common cause of hospital infections.Seventeen of the patients were colonised by CoNS during their hospital stay. In six cases, the bacteria had colonised the lower airways after the patient was ventilated – suggesting that the procedure itself had introduced the bacteria. A team led by Professor Charlotta Edlund, from the Karolinska Institute, took swabs from the patients’ airways and analysed the genetic fingerprints of bacteria grown from them.
By seeing which patients had harboured the same strains it was possible to trace the transmissionpatterns.The scientists investigated the transmission of several strains of Staphylococcus bacteria, called CoNS. They wrote in the journal Critical Care: “Although transmission of bacteria does not necessarily lead to infection, it is nevertheless an indication that infection control measures can be improved.”The study focused on 20 intensive care patients at Huddinge University Hospital, in Stockholm. All had required mechanical ventilation for at least three days. Often it appeared to be ventilation equipment itself that was spreading the bacteria.The researchers found that 70 per cent of those they studied were colonised with bugs caught from other patients in their unit. Replacements: P Sanderson (Harlequins) for Hill, 6-20 and for Corry, 54; M Tindall (Bath) for Smith, 54; A Sheridan (Sale) for Woodman, 54; H Vyvyan (Newcastle) for Hill, 60; K Bracken (Saracens) for Gomarsall, 63; B Gollings (Newcastle) for Abbott, 79.NEW ZEALAND BARBARIANS: J Muller (Cats); R Gear (North Harbour), K Lowen (Waikato), D Gibson (Leicester), D Albanese (Leeds); G Jackson (Bay of Plenty), D Lee (Otago); A Woodcock (North Harbour), A Hore (Taranaki), D Manu (Waikato), T Flavell (North Harbour), S Maling (Otago), T Randell (Saracens, capt), J Blackie (Otago), X Rusg (Auckland).
Patients in intensive care wards are particularly at risk of infection from so-called superbugs, a study has found.
Scientists in Sweden warned of an “unexpectedly high” level of transmission of bacteria between intensive care patients Many of the bugs were resistant to several antibiotics. Replacements: S Haring (Otago) for Rush, 38; A Tiatia (Harlequins) for Hore, 48; N Maxwell (Canterbury) for Maling, 58; B Willis (Harlequins) for Lee, 60; T Vili (Borders) for Gibson, 65; M Hurter (Newcastle) for Manu, 65; E Taione (Newcastle) for Gear, 73.Referee: J Jutge (France).. “Depending on who England send – and I hope to God they don’t cheapen the shirt by selecting a weak squad, as they did in 1998 – it could be a royal rumble,” the flanker said.Woodward’s selectorial consistency, part of the bedrock of England’s success in Australia, suggests he will travel with the strongest, most experienced squad at his disposal – good news for those who measure English rugby by its results in the Test arena, but worrying for those impatient twentysomethings who want it all now.Take Stevens, the 21-year-old prop from Bath, as an example. No caps were awarded by England that day – just about the only similarity between the two fixtures. This invitation team was largely out of season, out of shape and, after half an hour of semi-entertaining cut and thrust, out of gas.”We played pretty well for about 35 minutes, and then the juice disappeared,” said Randell, one of the fitter Baa-Baas, thanks to his regular outings with Saracens “I could see my blokes blowing, and blowing hard.
