08.02.19
Another patient dies after contracting infection at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde hospital
A patient has died after contracting a bacterial infection in a hospital in Paisley, marking the fifth infection-control death at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GGC).
The death occurred at Royal Alexandra Hospital where the patient was seriously ill due to an underlying condition and bacterial infection was one of a number of contributory factors.
The trust said the infection, stenotrophomonas maltophilia, had affected two other patients, with one recovering and the other not requiring treatment – and since then no other patients had tested positive for the illness.
Control measures were put in place immediately, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said, adding: “our thoughts are with the family of the patient who has passed away. We closely monitor infection rates within our hospitals at all times.”
It stressed: “We have managed this situation fully in line with national guidance and it is this rigorous approach to infection control that identified and managed this effectively.”
The death marks the latest infection-control crisis to hit Glasgow in recent weeks.
Last week an incident management team was triggered to look into the death of two premature babies at the Princess Maternity Hospital as a result of Staphylococcus aureus.
NHS GGC said an investigation has been launched into the outbreak of the blood-stream infection at the hospital’s neonatal unit where a third child had been infected, but was in a stable condition.
Last month a 10-year-old boy and an adult died at Glasgow’s flagship Queen Elizabeth University Hospital after an outbreak of pigeon droppings, and another patient became seriously ill after contracting a fungal infection.
The Scottish health minister Jeane Freeman ordered a review into the design of the hospital after meeting with officials from the trust despite the health board claiming they had dealt with the infection “thoroughly.”
First minister Nicola Sturgeon said that Freeman has been in regular contact with the trust’s health board and Health Protection Scotland had been drafted in to help the trust.
Commenting on the death in Paisley, Freeman said: “My thoughts and sympathies are with the families involved, and in particular the family of the person who has died.
“While there have been no additional infections connected with this incident, a deep clean has been carried out and additional control measures have been put in place.
“Health Protection Scotland are assured that the board have undertaken the appropriate investigation and that control measures have been put in place.”
Image credit - Alex Mcnaughton