In Campinas, Brazil, seven patients in the adult intensive care unit of Dr. Mário Gatti Municipal Hospital have tested positive for the KPC enzyme, which is classified as a superbug due to its high resistance to antibiotics. The hospital administration confirmed that the discovery was made during a routine evaluation by the infection control department. In response to these cases, the hospital has decided to temporarily stop accepting new patients in that ICU unit starting from October 10.

The superbug was identified during regular assessments, raising concerns about infection control and the safety of patients within the facility. The hospital has taken immediate action by isolating the infected patients in a dedicated part of the ICU, staffed by an exclusive team to manage their care. Furthermore, the hospital is coordinating with the Department of Health Surveillance to monitor the situation closely and has submitted a contingency plan for review. Three other patients who were in the same area will be transferred to similar complexity beds within the healthcare network.

To safeguard against further spread of the infection, the hospital will conduct a thorough cleaning of the affected unit. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges healthcare facilities in Brazil face with antibiotic-resistant infections and the need for rigorous infection control measures to protect vulnerable patients, especially in intensive care settings.