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'Superbug' infection outbreak detected at Nightingale hospital

The Nightingale facility for coronavirus patients is based at Belfast City Hospital
The Nightingale facility for coronavirus patients is based at Belfast City Hospital The Nightingale facility for coronavirus patients is based at Belfast City Hospital

AN outbreak of two 'superbug' infections was identified on a critical care Covid ward at Northern's Ireland's Nightingale facility yesterday.

The Irish News has learned Belfast health trust chiefs alerted the Public Health Agency (PHA) following confirmation the bugs were detected among 13 ICU coronavirus patients at the unit, based at Belfast City Hospital.

The trust was not in a position to comment last night but a statement is expected today.

Sources say one of the bacterial infections is known as Glycopeptide Resistant Enterococci (GRE), which is resistant to a group of antibiotics.

They described the outbreak as "worrying" given the vulnerability of those affected, who are all ventilated.

Concerns have been raised about how the infections were transmitted given the strict Covid hygiene protocols in the hospital. The normal treatment procedure would be to isolate diagnosed patients - but this cannot be done due to the space required for Covid equipment, such as ventilators.

GRE can cause wound infections, blood poisoning, and infections of the abdomen, pelvis, bile duct, heart valves or the urinary tract.

It is more common among patients in intensive care or renal units. It can be spread by transmission between patients and healthcare workers via contaminated hands, equipment and sometimes the environment.

Separately, it has emerged that plans are at an advanced stage to transform the Nightingale into a regional centre for cancer operations as part of a drive to rebuild non-Covid services.

The Irish News has learned the designated coronavirus facility has been chosen to carry out planned "complex" surgeries for cancer patients from across the north - and tackle a massive backlog created by the pandemic.

Since the beginning of the year, more than 1,000 red flag cancer procedures have been postponed due to Covid-19 pressures.

It is understood kidney transplants are also set to resume at the City hospital as number of admissions to Nightingale plummets.

Dialysis services and a mental health unit will remain but three wards for elderly people are expected to be transferred in an overhaul led by the Department of Health.

Department officials last night confirmed health minister Robin Swann has "agreed" the Belfast Nightingale is "prioritised for de-escalation to increase regional complex surgery capacity as quickly as possible".

"As the number of Covid-19 patients reduce further, the Belfast City Hospital will become a green site (non-Covid) serving the region," a spokesman said.

Sources say senior trust management were last week briefed on plans that will see City hospital site - where the north's main Cancer Centre is also located - become a regional unit for elective cancer operations.

The massive 11-storey hospital in the south of the city became the specialist NHS hospital for coronvirus last spring, with the majority of its services transferred to other hospitals. It was stood down after the first wave but re-opened in October following rocketing infection rates.

British army medics were deployed in January to assist Nightingale's nursing staff following the post-Christmas surge. They returned to their posts in England last month.