New 'superbug' may be killing hundreds*

By Victoria Thake
Last Updated: 1:47am GMT 19/11/2007

Hundreds of patients are dying each year from a new "untreatable"
hospital infection, a leading expert has warned.

New 'superbug' may be killing hundreds
Pseudomonas is usually found in specialist wards and can cause a number
of illnesses

Pseudomonas is dangerous because it is especially virulent in intensive
care units and has become increasingly resistant to treatment, says
Professor Mark Enright, an authority on healthcare-acquired infections.

"Pseudomonas is a nightmare for hospitals - a real struggle," said Prof
Enright, of Imperial College, London.

"It is not as common as MRSA or C diff, and not one of the most
aggressive pathogens, but Pseudomonas is probably untreatable in a lot
of cases.

"It ends up killing some people because it is so resistant to antibiotics."

There are no official statistics on the number of deaths from
Pseudomonas bacteria, which breed in water and are spread through
contaminated medical equipment. However, Prof Enright estimates that it
kills hundreds each year, particularly those patients who go on to get
septicaemia, or blood poisoning.

Studies suggest that those patients who develop septicaemia after
contracting Pseudomonas have only a 20 per cent chance of survival.

According to figures from the Health Protection Agency, the number of
cases of Pseudomonas rose by 41 per cent last year, with 3,663 cases
being diagnosed across Britain. However, because it is one of a handful
of infections whose reporting is voluntary, experts believe that the
actual number could be much higher than the official figures suggest.

Although not officially classed as a superbug, Pseudomonas is usually
found in specialist wards and can cause a wide range of illnesses,
including meningitis, and can also lead to blindness or the loss of limbs.

It is a serious problem in patients whose immune systems are low, such
as those in the late stages of cancer, cystic fibrosis, HIV, or
suffering from severe burns.

In September, the paediatric intensive care unit at Glasgow's Royal
Hospital for Sick Children was closed for 48 hours after Pseudomonas
bacteria were found in five children.

In 2005, an outbreak at Guy's Hospital in London left one woman dead and
infected 18 other patients who were receiving treatment in the
urological surgery department.

Survivor Alfred Nell, 40, from Luton, believes that he developed blood
poisoning after coming into contact with Pseudomonas through a
contaminated microscope. He is now planning to sue the hospital for damages.

A spokeswoman for Guy's Hospital said an urgent investigation revealed
the most likely cause to have been a faulty washer in the operating
theatre, which was immediately removed from service.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Department of Health said that the NHS
works to tackle Pseudomonas as part of its strategy to combat all
hospital-acquired bugs.

"Most infections can be treated with antibiotics and staff in specialist
wards are aware of these infections and well trained in how to treat
them," the spokesman said.