Hospitals are at risk of an outbreak of a potentially deadly superbug unless attitudes towards screening change, health experts said.
Rates of the antibiotic-resistant bacteria carbapenemase-producing enterobacteriaceae (CPE) in Scotland are relatively low compared with other parts of Europe, the US, India and Africa. However, a study by researchers at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) found that there was a lack of awareness among health professionals and the public about the threat from it. More than 30 per cent of nurses did not know of the risk and thought taking rectal swabs from patients, the best screening method, was unacceptable.
In the survey, 450 nursing staff from all health board areas and 261 members of the public were questioned. The lead study author, Professor Kay Currie,