Fears heart surgey machines behind infections

Thousands of people who've had open heart surgery in the past four years have been told to watch our for signs of bacterial infection. The warning comes after about 120 cases overseas that have been traced back to faulty machines used in operating theatres during heart-lung surgery. Patients exposed to the bacteria can develop general and nonspecific symptoms that can often take months to develop. As a result, diagnosis of the infections can be missed or delayed, sometimes for years, making them more difficult to treat. RNZ health correspondent Karen Brown spoke to Christchurch Hospital's clinical microbiologist Dr Josh Freeman, who says the risk is extremely low but potentially fatal.