The Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed the outbreak.
In a statement released on Thursday, the HSE wrote: “UL Hospitals Group can confirm that it is currently managing an outbreak of CPE (Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacterales) and that strict visitor restrictions are in place at University Hospital Limerick.”
According to information from the HSE, CPE is the most difficult superbug to kill with antibiotics.
There have been 21 new positive cases detected since June linked to this current outbreak. There are currently three CPE-positive inpatients and University Hospital Limerick and all necessary infection prevention and control measures are in place to manage this current outbreak. All cases detected since June relate to patients colonised with and not infected with CPE.
As such, the hospital has announced major changes to its visiting policy for the time being. Also, all positive patients have been isolated, with strict high level contact precautions.
Until further notice only one visitor per patient is allowed and during visiting hours (2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 9pm) only. Members of the public are reminded not to bring children on visits anywhere in the hospital. Parents visiting children are unaffected by the restrictions but are advised not to bring siblings.
CPE is recognised as being endemic in the MidWest Region and UL Hospitals Group has developed comprehensive control measures to deal with Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms.
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