This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/6188801.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| MRSA strain kills two in hospital | MRSA strain kills two in hospital |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A strain of MRSA that has never caused deaths in hospitals has killed two people, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA). | A strain of MRSA that has never caused deaths in hospitals has killed two people, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA). |
| After a healthcare worker died in September, it emerged that a strain of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) MRSA had also claimed a patient's life. | After a healthcare worker died in September, it emerged that a strain of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) MRSA had also claimed a patient's life. |
| The strain attacks white blood cells and sufferers cannot fight infection. | The strain attacks white blood cells and sufferers cannot fight infection. |
| An investigation at the unnamed West Midlands hospital found six other people also contracted the strain. | An investigation at the unnamed West Midlands hospital found six other people also contracted the strain. |
| It was identified in eight people overall, with four of those affected developing an infection, according to the agency. | It was identified in eight people overall, with four of those affected developing an infection, according to the agency. |
| Two of those infected died. | Two of those infected died. |
| Hospital-associated strains of MRSA, which are more commonly known and do not produce PVL, normally affect more elderly hospitalised patients. | Hospital-associated strains of MRSA, which are more commonly known and do not produce PVL, normally affect more elderly hospitalised patients. |
| The HPA said the PVL strain has been seen in the UK before. | |
| Marine Richard Campbell-Smith, 18, cut a leg in training and died after reportedly becoming infected with the PVL strain in 2004. | |
| A 28-year-old woman also died after picking up the bug in her local gym. | |
| 'First time' | 'First time' |
| In a statement, it said: "PVL-producing strains of MRSA have been seen in the UK before - however, the small numbers of cases reported have usually been in the community rather than a hospital setting. | In a statement, it said: "PVL-producing strains of MRSA have been seen in the UK before - however, the small numbers of cases reported have usually been in the community rather than a hospital setting. |
| "This outbreak is the first time transmission and deaths due to this strain are known to have occurred in a healthcare setting in England and Wales." | "This outbreak is the first time transmission and deaths due to this strain are known to have occurred in a healthcare setting in England and Wales." |
| The agency identified those affected as being "among individuals in a hospital and their close household contacts in the West Midlands". | The agency identified those affected as being "among individuals in a hospital and their close household contacts in the West Midlands". |
| However, the HPA did not identify the hospital involved. | However, the HPA did not identify the hospital involved. |
| The agency only covers England and Wales. | The agency only covers England and Wales. |
| However, the PVL strain is not thought to have caused deaths in the rest of the UK. | However, the PVL strain is not thought to have caused deaths in the rest of the UK. |