Bug Concern Shuts Children’s Unit

The intensive care unit of Glasgow’s hospital for sick children has been closed to new admissions because of concerns over a dangerous bacterium.

The Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill closed the unit after five children were found with different strains of Pseudomonas.

A spokeswoman for the health board said the bacterium was identified as part of the hospital’s screening programme.

She said the unit was closed on Friday afternoon, after the discovery.

People with suppressed immune systems and those on ventilators are particularly vulnerable to the infection.

The hospital did not give the ages of those affected but the ward treats children up to the age of 13.

Their parents have been kept informed and strict infection control measures have been put in place.

The spokeswoman said: “I can confirm that, as a precautionary measure, we are not admitting new patients to the unit.

“Five children have tested positive for several strains of Pseudomonas.

“Strict infection control measures have been put in place and the situation is being strictly monitored.

“We have given advice and assurance to the parents. None of the children are giving us cause for concern as a result of the bug.”

Microbiologist Professor Hugh Pennington said: “It is traditionally a bug which infected people who have other things wrong with them.

“It has been a problem over the years in burns units, for example.

“It is a bug that lives in the environment. It is down in the drains and so on.

Prof Pennington said the bug was very common.

He added: “It can cause ear infections and one of the characteristics there is that the pus that comes out is a bluey-green colour because with this bug some of the strains produce a pigment.”

Prof Pennington said that the bug can thrive in damp conditions and on broken skin.