Published: Wednesday, 25th November, 2009 10:52am

Patient 'stable' in Dunfermline hospital with E.coli

by Siew Peng Lee

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A PATIENT at the Queen Margaret Hospital is in a stable condition after contracting a particularly dangerous form of the E.coli bug.

The patient was confirmed as suffering from the strain of E.coli O157 on Saturday and other patients in the ward have been moved.

NHS Fife say there is evidence that the E.coli was contracted in the community and that infection control measures are in place, with advice being given to visitors and families of patients in that particular ward.

A spokesperson for NHS Fife said, "Following the admission of a patient as a possible surgical emergency earlier this week, routine samples were sent to the laboratories and E.coli 0157 was confirmed today.

"The evidence is that this was contracted in the community. This patient is now in a stable condition.

"The ward to which this patient was admitted has been closed for a terminal clean.

"Patients who may have been in contact with this patient have been moved to a ward where they are being nursed with appropriate infection control measures on a precautionary basis.

"NHS Fife will be monitoring the situation carefully to consider whether further public health measures, if any, need to be taken.

"Necessary action has been taken in the community. Further details will be issued when these are available."

E.coli O157 symptoms can range from mild diarrhoea to haemorrhagic colitis, which is a combination of severe abdominal cramps and bloody diarrhoea.

Most patients shake off the bug within a week but a small number of patients may suffer from haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which kills red blood cells and can cause permanent and severe kidney damage.

An outbreak of E.coli at Dunfermline's Careshare Nursery in 2006 saw 13 people infected and four children hospitalised.