Public health emergency declared after rise of superbug

A public health emergency has been declared to combat the spread of a potentially lethal superbug detected in 306 patients to the end of September.

CPE (carbapenemase-producing enterobacteriaceae), also referred to as carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE), is the newest in a long line of superbugs or bacteria that are almost impossible to kill with antibiotics and particularly problematic in hospital settings.

Health Protection Surveillance Centre figures for the year to the end of June show that hospital inpatients accounted for most cases (86), followed by outpatients (13), long-term care facility residents (3), and patients attending GPs (5).