Royal Infection 'Contributed' To Three Deaths

Three patients at a top Belfast hospital have died following an outbreak of a serious infection in the facility.

Belfast Health and Social Trust said five patients were confirmed as suffering from listeriosis. Three who were ill with other conditions, died.

The trust said the bug "had contributed to the deaths", but added, however, that "any risk to the wider community was small" and all the families had been contacted.

However, on foot of the probe, the trust has already said it is confident that the listeriosis outbreak did not come from its kitchens and an investigation is under way to find out how the listeria bug got into the Royal Victoria Hospital.

Listeriosis is caused by a common 'bug' sometimes found in foodstuffs such as pate, soft cheeses, sandwiches and cooked meats.

In normally fit and healthy people it can lead to short-term and self-limiting illness with symptoms such as mild fever and diarrhoea.

It can, however, cause more serious illness in people who are already ill from other causes, and among pregnant women.

Therefore, as a precautionary measure, some foods have been removed from patient menus in the Royal and other hospitals managed by the trust and Belfast Health and Social Care Trust is leading the investigation with support from a range of expert agencies.

The trust said cases of serious illness caused by listeria remain very rare and it was investigating all possible causes, including external sources.

Relatives and patients are being asked not to bring food into the hospital and to only consume food provided to them on the wards at mealtimes by hospital staff.

Special fact-sheets are troday being provided for relatives and patients in wards at the Royal Victoria and a trust information line was launched.

It will be open between 9am and 5pm daily until further notice and can be accessed by calling 0800 9801100.

(BMcC)