Drug-resistant bacteria ‘colonises’ hospital ward

A hospital “colonised” by antibiotic-resistant bacteria is due to undergo a “radical” £2m revamp in an effort to eradicate the problem.

A report has said that the ward for people having surgery on complex gastrointestinal conditions at Morriston Hospital in Swansea has had an outbreak of carbapenemase-producing organisms since 2019.

A deep clean of the ward did not eradicate the bacteria and further spread has occurred.

Health board chiefs have previously considered remedial action, but the work was prevented from going ahead due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The report states “The prevalence of this organism on Ward G is such that more radical action than that taken previously is required.

“The usual and enhanced cleaning regimes adopted by the health board have not been successful thus far and it is the view of the IPC (infection prevention and control) team that this organism is now colonised on Ward G.”

The business case for the refurbishment stated that the ward was outdated and patients’ dignity and privacy was limited. It would reduce the number of beds by up to six, but facilities would be improved.

It added that the ward would have to be vacated and deep cleaned before work began and fire protection improvements made.

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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