KINGSTON, Jamaica — OBSERVER ONLINE has been reliably informed that patients at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) have been infected with a strain of multi-drug resistant bacteria over the past week.

A source close to the situation said the hospital does not have enough of the drugs that are needed to treat the infection, and that two of three infected patients remain seriously ill.

The medical source told OBSERVER ONLINE that the Health Ministry “should be aware as of yesterday (Tuesday)”.

The source said medical staff is trying to control the spread of the germ, acinetobacter, using techniques such as barrier nursing, and proper hygienic practices.

There is fear that the germ could spread. According to the source, up to Monday of this week, one of the patients was on a general ward with other uninfected patients.

Acinetobacter is a major cause of healthcare-associated infections, especially in the intensive care settings. It is usually resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents causing infections, including pneumonia, meningitis, and central venous catheter-related infection, among other complications.

The South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) told OBSERVER ONLINE a short while ago that a press release on the matter would be issued soon.

The revelation comes amidst public outcry over the deaths of 19 babies from hospital-acquired infectios (klebsiella and serratia) at the University Hospital of the West Indies and the Cornwall Regional Hospital, since June of this year. There have been calls for the Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson to resign over the issue.

Alphea Saunders