Britain's deadly bug possibly imported from U.S. or Canada
{{date|June 8, 2005}}

A hardy new strain of a deadly bacteria that has killed 12 elderly patients
and infected 300 others in a British hospital may have been imported from
either the United States or Canada.

The new variant of clostridium difficile, which causes severe diarrhea,
broke out 18 months ago at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, and it's speculated
that the bacteria might have been brought in by either an American or
Canadian patient to the hospital's famed spinal-injuries unit.
[http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/story.jsp?story=644855]

Initial investigation by Britain's Health Protection Agency indicates that
the new strain is similar to one circulating in the United States and
Canada.
[http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1118150952318_9/?hub=Health]

The spore-forming bacteria thrives in the intestines when the normal
balance of bacteria shifts --- something that can happen after a dose of
antibiotics --- and toxins are then produced, which can cause extreme
diarrhea.

This new strain of clostridium is particularly resilient and has even shown
resistance to certain disinfectants. It spreads by contact and can survive
up to 70 days, living on hospital floors and toilet seats.
[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,589-1643042,00.html]

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==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/story.jsp?story=644855
|title=Infection expert resigned over hospital's failure to control new superbug
|author=Jeremy Laurance
|pub=Independent News & Media (UK) Ltd.
|date=June 7, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1118150952318_9/?hub=Health
|title=Britain probes outbreak of hospital superbug possibly imported from Canada
|author=Emma Ross
|pub=Associated Press
|date=June 7, 2005}}

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==References==
* {{source|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,589-1643042,00.html
|title=Q&A:Clostridium difficile, the latest superbug
|author=
|pub=Times Newspapers Ltd.
|date=June 6, 2005}}

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[[Category:Health]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:North America]]
A hardy new strain of a deadly bacteria that has killed 12 elderly patients
and infected 300 others in a British hospital may have been imported from
either the United States or Canada.

The new variant of clostridium difficile, which causes severe diarrhea,
broke out 18 months ago at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, and it's speculated
that the bacteria might have been brought in by either an American or
Canadian patient to the hospital's famed spinal-injuries unit.


Initial investigation by Britain's Health Protection Agency indicates that
the new strain is similar to one circulating in the United States and
Canada.


The spore-forming bacteria thrives in the intestines when the normal
balance of bacteria shifts --- something that can happen after a dose of
antibiotics --- and toxins are then produced, which can cause extreme
diarrhea.

This new strain of clostridium is particularly resilient and has even shown
resistance to certain disinfectants. It spreads by contact and can survive
up to 70 days, living on hospital floors and toilet seats.


*
Health Europe North America