Superbug outbreak declared at Sault Area Hospital

An outbreak has been declared in a medical unit at the Sault Area Hospital due to a superbug.

The precautions have been in place for more than a week. Officials said there are currently no active infections in patients or staff.

An outbreak has been declared in a medical unit at the Sault Area Hospital due to a superbug. (Photo from video)

It’s been nine years since area hospital had last encountered the superbug known as CPE.

"It's an organism that is more resistant to the usual antibiotics that we are using and even some of those more broad spectrum antibiotics that we need to use for other serious infections," said Dr. Lucas Castellani, medical director of infection prevention and control.

"This is a Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacteriaceae. So it's even resistant to some of those."

Visiting hours have been reduced in the 3C Unit to 1-8 p.m., with no change for essential caregivers.

Castellani said while the bacteria is present in the unit, there have been no infections. CPE has a 40 per cent mortality rate if it reaches the infection stage.

"You don't want to see someone get what we call colonized with the bacteria, meaning they sort of pick up the bacteria, and then now it's part of their normal bacteria," Castellani said.

"If they develop the infection afterwards, then it could lead to serious consequence where we may not have adequate antibiotics to treat it."

He said there is no way for the public to monitor for symptoms or signs of the organism, but he suggests people follow standard hygiene practices.

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The hospital is still in the early phase of the outbreak, and will need at least 21 days with no transmission before the status can be lifted.

"Currently we're in the process of understanding the outbreak," Castellani said.

"Until we can better understand what's happening, it'll probably take us some weeks and probably months before we can sort of fully come to terms with the duration of the outbreak."