6 Sep 2008

Greymouth hospital tested for MRSA

11:23 am on 6 September 2008

Operating theatres at Greymouth Hospital were closed on Friday after a visiting clinician tested positive for the antibiotic resistant superbug MRSA.

Tests were due to be carried out on Saturday on the operating theatres which will remain closed over the weekend.

West Coast District Health Board spokesperson Bryan Jamieson says the theatres have been thoroughly cleaned.

"There will be tests run over the weekend to confirm that MRSA is not present in the operating theatres and should we get an all-clear for that then surgery will be able to resume on Monday we hope."

No surgery had been scheduled in the operating theatres over the weekend.

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is present in about 30% of the healthy population, where it has no effect. However in people who are ill or injured it can become invasive and cause disease.