Hospital should come clean on bug

Tauranga Hospital should not keep secret the bug that has infected at least 10 orthopaedic patients, Green Health Spokesperson Sue Kedgley said today.

"Hospital management should not be refusing to reveal what the bacteria is that is causing the outbreak.

"This is a publicly-funded hospital. The public has the right to know," Ms Kedgley said.

Hospital management has refused to reveal what the offending bacteria is, but says it is potentially much more serious than the common sources of post-surgery infection - staphylococcus or streptococcus infections. They are trying to track the source of the bacteria.

Ms Kedgley said all New Zealand hospitals should approach the issue of treatment-resistant organisms with openness and transparency, and not attempt to conceal or play it down.

"This outbreak is a harbinger of things to come. If it's happening in Tauranga, it could happen anywhere else in New Zealand. We need heightened awareness of the dangers of treatment-resistant organisms, and the ways of preventing them."

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