VRE and MRSA Cluster Identified at Timmins and District Hospital

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VRE and MRSA Cluster Identified at Timmins and District Hospital

Timmins, ON – Timmins and District Hospital is advising the public that we have identified a number of patients on Medical C unit that are carrying Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and/or Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA).

Enterococccus is a bacteria that lives in most people’s bowels. Vancomycin resistant enterococcus is the same bacteria, but it is a strain that has developed resistance to many commonly used antibiotics, specifically an antibiotic called vancomycin. When a person has an infection with VRE it can be difficult to treat because the usual antibiotics cannot get rid of it.

Staphylococcus aureus is a bacteria that lives on human skin, and it can also live in the nose and your gut. The usual antibiotics used to treat infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus are called Methicillin. Some strains of Staphylococcus aureus are not killed by Methicillin and are said to be Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). When a person has an infection with MRSA it can be difficult to treat because the usual antibiotics cannot get rid of it.

Given the number of cases on this specific unit, we are implementing visitor restrictions until further notice. In addition we are asking for the public’s assistance with the following:

  • Medical C is closed to visitors until further notice
  • Visitors to the Pediatric unit is restricted to parents/caregivers only
  • All visitors to all other units will be required to wash their hands upon entering and leaving the Hospital and before and after visiting patients at the Hospital
  • All individuals with cold, flu, or gastro-like symptoms (cough, fever, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea) are not to visit any patients in the Hospital

These measures are taken to minimize the risk of transmission from/to patients and we ask the public for their cooperation in this matter.

The Timmins and District Hospital (TADH) is a level C, fully accredited community, referral and teaching hospital serving the residents of the City of Timmins and Cochrane District as well as the adjoining areas of the Temiskaming, Sudbury and Algoma districts. The hospital offers a full range of medical, surgical, critical care, maternity, newborn, pediatric, long-term care, mental health and diagnostic imaging services.

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For more information contact:

Quinn Thomson
Timmins and District Hospital
705-267-6331
qthomson@tadh.com