KOZHIKODE: The nursing students of Laxmi Memorial College of Nursing in Mangalore, where the majority are from Kerala, have been reportedly infected by the superbug MRSA (Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus).
The bacteria are resistant to a number of widely-used antibiotics and can cause life-threatening infections. Initially, the institution tried to cover up the outbreak, but later agreed to bear the treatment cost, say students.
A student from Kottayam said that nearly 100 nursing students had tested positive for MRSA infection. “The symptoms first appeared for a few students who attended the post-maternity ward of the hospital. When my batch (the next batch) was sent for duty, the hospital authorities didn’t inform us about the fact. After the results of the previous batch students, we were also tested and found positive,” said the student.
Though they requested for a second test to confirm the results, the hospital authorities denied it and asked them to isolate themselves from others. It is learnt that the college has again put the students, who were tested positive, for duty in the post-maternity ward next week.
“When we informed the principal, she said the college would not bother even if they tested positive for HIV,” alleged another student.
The students said that their parents would come to Mangalore on Monday. However, principal Dr Larissa Martha Sams maintained that only a few students were affected by the MRSA and that they were given antibiotics.
She denied any outbreak as such and said it had not affected the working of the hospital or the college.
Meanwhile the Post BSc Nursing students will hold strike on Saturday after the Principal allegedly misbehaved with a parent who came to the College to enquire the health of his daughter who was tested positive.
The other nursing students are also planning to go for protest in coming days. The students alleged that the College authorities are not allowing the students tested positive to consult doctors and instruct them to be isolated from others.
What is MRSA?
This tiny cluster of bacteria (IN PIC) is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), seen under a microscope. This strain of the common "staph" bacteria causes infections in different parts of the body—including the skin, lungs, and other areas. MRSA is sometimes called a "superbug" because it doesn't respond to many antibiotics.
Though most MRSA infections are minor, some can be life-threatening. The infection can be caused by breathing as well as by skin-to-skin contact. The infection may come out usually as Pneumonia, but infect other parts too. The symptoms of MRSA depend on where you're infected. Most often, it causes mild infections on the skin, like sores or boils.
But it can also cause more serious skin infections or infect surgical wounds, the bloodstream, the lungs, or the urinary tract. Complete rest and proper medication is required. If the outbreak reported, the ward should be fumigated to avoid any further outbreaks.
(Courtesy: Dr S.C Bantwal, Neuro surgeon Madhavarau Scindia Hospital, Kannur)
