Superbug infections up 17% in Coastal hospitals

The number of patients who contracted the antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection known as MRSA while in Vancouver Coastal Health facilities jumped about 17 per cent in the 2006-07 fiscal year, according to a report obtained by The Vancouver Sun.

The second annual regional infection control report shows that 581 people -- 96 more than the previous year -- contracted the superbug in Vancouver Coastal facilities in the year ending March 2007.

Another 143 people contracted the superbug in the community, while 26 cases were of unknown origin, for a total of 750 cases, down from 811 the year before.

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