Patients moved as hospital tries to contain virus

THE rise of a pathogenic bacteria in Nicosia general hospital’s intensive care unit is forcing officials to gradually move patients to different wards.

Rital Komodiki, the hospital’s director said Acinetobacter baumannii is a usual infenction found in all hospitals around the world.

“Every effort is being made to contain the microbe and patients are getting the necessary treatment,” Komodiki told CyBC news.

She said the hospital was reducing patient numbers in the intensive care unit by transferring them and any new cases to the burn unit while disinfecting the area.

“It is a transient increase (of the microbe) that happens at times and it is tackled with precautionary measures,” Komodiki said.

Acinetobacter enters the body through open wounds and tubes. It mostly infects those with weak immune systems, the wounded, the elderly, and children.

It is not dangerous to people who are not already ill but they – including hospital staff and visitors – can carry the bacteria into the rest of the hospital.

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