Greens accuse authorities of playing down superbug

The Green Party believes that health officials are trying to downplay outbreaks of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the community.

The party's health spokeswoman, Sue Kedgley, says a recent superbug outbreak in Otago rest homes was extremely serious and indicated a rapid spread.

About 120 people have been affected in Otago by the E. coli bacteria, which affects the bowel and causes urinary tract infections.

Residents in about 10 rest homes are among the sufferers and some are being treated in Dunedin Hospital.

Ms Kedgley said the E. coli bacteria was resistant to Gentomycin, the main drug used in hospitals.

She said the outbreak had obviously been going on for some time without the community being aware of it.

"Clearly officials are trying to downplay outbreaks of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and to conceal them from the public," she said.

"Interestingly, the health select committee has been investigating the issue of antibiotic resistance, yet officials have failed to mention this or other serious outbreaks of antibiotic resistance that have been taking place in communities for some time."

Ms Kedgley said officials had conceded that similar outbreaks had been occurring in other regions, and said she would press them to inform the public about where they had occurred.

"The public is entitled to know that there are serious outbreaks of antibiotic-resistant superbugs in their communities," she said.

"All district health boards should be required to report in their annual reports each year on outbreaks of superbugs in their hospitals and communities."

- NZPA