After superbugs, intensive care unit of large hospital in Brazilian city of Goiânia is closed off

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A wing of the intensive care unit at the Hospital de Urgências de Goiânia (Hugo) in Goiânia, a city of 1.5 million people in the state of Goiás, has been closed since the end of September this year after superbugs were found in patients.

According to an internal memorandum issued by the hospital last Monday (Sept. 27), seven cases of “bacteria with extended resistance spectrum” were found. According to the document, these bacteria have a high mortality risk and are transmissible.

The memo also informs that these bacteria can remain on the surface for up to six months. The Hugo Infection Control Service has ordered a seven-day quarantine in this intensive care unit. Precautions such as hygiene and examinations of uninfected patients were also recommended to assess the spread of the bacteria.

NO DEATHS

In a release, Hugo management said disinfection was completed last Friday (Oct. 1). According to the Hugo release, the infected patients are stable, and some have been discharged from the ICU and are being treated for the reason they were admitted.

An infectious disease team, along with other areas and the hospital’s technical management, will assess the end of the quarantine on Monday (04). In the meantime, no new patients will be admitted to this ICU unit.