A further four patients at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee have tested positive for the potentially serious antibiotic-resistant bug VRE bringing the total to 26.
The latest cases are carriers of the bug and show no symptoms of infection. Since the end of December the surgical unit at Ninewells has reported increasing numbers of patients infected or colonised with vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE).
Infections with the bug are uncommon but tend to present as a urinary tract infection.
The infection is potentially more serious when it invades the bloodstream, particularly in patients with a suppressed immune system or who have had major surgery. Two patients reported previously had the bloodstream infection.
Health Protection Scotland said NHS Tayside had reported 26 patients testing positive for VRE and the results of further tests were awaited. NHS Tayside has increased testing of patients in surgical wards due to the rise in cases.
An NHS Tayside spokesperson said, “There have been no patients testing positive for VRE infection since February 20.”
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