A ward at Nottingham City Hospital has been closed after two patients were diagnosed with a superbug.
Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust, which runs City Hospital and the QMC, says two cases of superbug carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) have been confirmed.
The bug is said to be ‘very resistant to many antibiotics and can cause serious infections,’ according to NUH.
The cases were found on Fleming Ward at City Hospital.
Managers have closed the ward to new admissions, and restricted visiting and patient movements from the ward.
Dr Stephen Fowlie, NUH Medical Director, said: “Two patients on a City Hospital ward have been identified as carrying the carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) bug.
“Neither patient has had any symptoms or signs of infection.
“No other patients on the ward were carriers on screening.
“The two cases are probably linked, and one or both probably acquired the bug in our hospital – the first time this has happened.
“Since 2009 we have typically seen a few unrelated cases a year where the patient has been colonised in another healthcare facility, usually abroad.”
He added staff were taking “all practicable measures” to prevent further cases of the bug and quickly isolated the two patients.
Dr Fowlie added: “We are working closely with Public Health England and NHS Improvement to protect our patients.”
