Neo-natal unit hit by bug reopens

The unit was closed to new admissions from other hospitals

A neo-natal unit at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital closed to new admissions after being struck by a rare bug has reopened.

Five out of six babies found to be carrying Panton Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) staphylococcus aureus no longer have the bug, said the hospital.

A premature baby boy died at the hospital on 11 December after becoming infected with PVL.

PVL attacks white blood cells, leaving the sufferer unable to fight infection.

Hospital spokesman Andrew Stronach said: "Laboratory tests have confirmed that almost all the babies on the unit and the baby who was discharged home last month are no longer carriers of the bacterium after undergoing a programme of treatment.

"One baby remains positive as a carrier and will undergo a second course of treatment whilst being cared for in a single isolation room."

Consultant microbiologist Dr Judith Richards said: "This cluster of cases was picked up very early by our microbiologists and was contained quickly.

We are confident that this cluster of cases has been successfully limited Dr Judith Richards

"The decolonisation treatment that the babies have been having has been successful in all but one case and we believe a second course of treatment will be effective for the baby concerned.

"We have also contacted all but two of the families who had babies on the unit between 22 November and 19 December.

"We are confident that this cluster of cases has been successfully limited and the babies affected are now fine from the point of view of this organism.

"Over the coming weeks we will be undertaking a review to see if the precise cause of the outbreak can be identified but based on the evidence we have there may not be a definitive answer."

The cluster of PVL cases was the first to be seen in the hospital's 28-cot neonatal unit.