SALMONELLA SCARE HITS HOSPITAL OPERATION PLANS



Connaught Telegraph Logo 8 January 1997


Non emergency operations and routine admissions have been hit by the Salmonella outbreak at the Mayo General Hospital.

There have been 20 confirmed cases of the outbreak with three remaining as in-patients at the hospital in Castlebar.

A hospital spokesman confirmed that non-emergency procedures had been put on hold for this week. The matter was being reviewed on a daily basis. At a meeting of the Western Health Board on Monday a board spokesman described the outbreak as a 'moderately sized one'

Dr. Sean Conroy said a special team, trained in infection control had been set up to contain the outbreak and the source of infection had not yet been established, he confirmed.

Board member Mr. Al McDonnell, Castlebar, who raised the issue at the monthly meting said Dr. Conroy said the first indication of salmonella came >from a patient who was just admitted to hospital and who was complaining of diarrhoea. But he was not in a position to confirm that this was the original source.

He said all of the resources of the hospital were going towards the containment of the outbreak and the isolation there of.

There were two new cases were confirmed in recent days. Mr. McDonnell said: "The outbreak to my mind is not fully under control and it is up to all of us, as members and up to the medical people, to ensure that this is contained as quickly as possible."

He continued: "It is not detected early it can be quite dangerous and if it does not receive the proper attention it can prove fatal in certain circumstances. But there is little evidence that this is likely in this case."

He said the only indications of the source of the outbreak was that it came from a patient who was just admitted. All of the food tests carried out at the hospital have proven negative.

Mr. McDonnell continued: "We were assured by Dr. Conway that they hope to have the outbreak under control under one week. If this does not happen we will have to raise it again and assure that additional steps are taken to control it."