salmonella outbreak Heartlands
Jun 13, 2014 8:24:03 GMT
Post by Admin on Jun 13, 2014 8:24:03 GMT
The hospital trust says it has carried out "stringent" testing on food and water
A salmonella outbreak at a Birmingham hospital has led to 20 patients and three staff falling ill.
Heartlands Hospital, Bordesley Green, has closed eight wards while it deals with the infection.
Continue reading the main story
What is salmonella?
Salmonella bacteria
Salmonella is one of a number of bacteria that can cause food poisoning
Symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes vomiting and fever. If you suffer from serious dehydration, the illness may become life-threatening
Anyone can get Salmonella, but young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems have a greater risk of becoming severely ill
You usually get Salmonella by eating contaminated food. Salmonella bacteria can affect meat, eggs, poultry, and milk. Other foods like green vegetables, fruit and shellfish can become contaminated through contact with manure in the soil or sewage in the water
The Heart of England NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said experts were concerned the outbreak could spread to the wider community.
Medical director Andrew Catto said the outbreak could be "very serious".
'Every precaution'
He said the trust had worked with external microbiological experts who had expressed concern the infection was "the start of a potential community outbreak".
"We are concerned by the spread and number of patients who have tested positive, as this is unusual," said Dr Catto.
A salmonella outbreak at a Birmingham hospital has led to 20 patients and three staff falling ill.
Heartlands Hospital, Bordesley Green, has closed eight wards while it deals with the infection.
Continue reading the main story
What is salmonella?
Salmonella bacteria
Salmonella is one of a number of bacteria that can cause food poisoning
Symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes vomiting and fever. If you suffer from serious dehydration, the illness may become life-threatening
Anyone can get Salmonella, but young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems have a greater risk of becoming severely ill
You usually get Salmonella by eating contaminated food. Salmonella bacteria can affect meat, eggs, poultry, and milk. Other foods like green vegetables, fruit and shellfish can become contaminated through contact with manure in the soil or sewage in the water
The Heart of England NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said experts were concerned the outbreak could spread to the wider community.
Medical director Andrew Catto said the outbreak could be "very serious".
'Every precaution'
He said the trust had worked with external microbiological experts who had expressed concern the infection was "the start of a potential community outbreak".
"We are concerned by the spread and number of patients who have tested positive, as this is unusual," said Dr Catto.
