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November 18, 2015 – The Ottawa Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the General Campus is seeing an increase in the presence of a bacterium called Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. It is important to note that none of the four  affected babies in the unit is unwell as a result of the bacteria.

MRSA is a common species of bacteria found in the nose, on the skin and in the lower intestines and rarely causes any problems. Under certain circumstances, for example in premature infants whose immune systems are still developing, MRSA can lead to blood, lung or skin infection which  can be treated with antibiotics.

MRSA can be passed on to other people through touch.  It can survive on hands and on normal surfaces short periods of time. However, with proper use of alcohol hand gels and good hand washing, it is easy to kill.

The Ottawa Hospital NICU and Infection Prevention and Control teams have implemented multiple strategies to prevent the spread of MRSA on the unit:

• Staff, family and visitor hand hygiene protocols have been reinforced
• Infants who have tested positive for MRSA are being cared for under contact precautions, which means that staff caring for them will wear gloves and gowns (when appropriate).

The Ottawa Hospital is committed to the highest standards of patient safety. We are working hard to ensure there is no further spread of the bacterium, and we are monitoring the situation closely on an ongoing basis.

We know that having a baby in the NICU is stressful and difficult and we appreciate parents’ help in preventing the spread of infections. They can help by using alcohol hand gel or washing their hands with antiseptic soap and water before and after touching their baby.

We ask parents and their families for their understanding and collaboration during this challenging time.

For further information, view the MRSA Patient Information Sheet.

Media Contact:
Mark Shainblum
The Ottawa Hospital
613-737-8460