Quebec health minister denies the antibiotic-resistant “superbug” is a problem despite growing number of cases

• Quebec's health minister denies that a virulent, drug-resistant 'superbug' is spreading out of control in hospitals throughout his province.
• However, at least 5,000 people were infected with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MSRA) in 2004, Health Minister Philippe Couillard told reporters on Monday.
• "Since January of 2003 levels of infection have stayed stable," he said.
• "We must note that the same efforts we are making for C. difficile will also bear fruit for this bacteria."
• Couillard credited that effort with stemming the impact of the highly infectious bacterium.
• Dr. Charles Frenette, a Montreal infectious diseases specialist, agreed those measures had an impact.
• However, "it's still a lot and there's still a lot of infection control measures we can do to limit its spread," he said.
• Last year, Quebec introduced new infection-control protocols after a virulent strain of Clostridium difficile was blamed for 109 deaths in hospitals in Montreal and Sherbrooke, Que.
• Another 108 fatalities were indirectly linked to the strain.
• On Sunday, a report from French-language public broadcaster Radio Canada showed that 5,000 people were infected with MRSA last year.
• Although the report said several patients had died from the infection, it did not specify how many.
• Typically contracted by hospitalized patients with weakened immune systems, MRSA can cause pneumonia, blood poisoning and urinary tract infections.
• Pointing to experience with the bacterium in other countries, Couillard said Quebec has gotten off relatively lightly.
• "But what is that going to cost and what are you willing to give up?"
• However, some doctors say it's time for the medical community to debate that question, because superbugs are getting harder to fight.
• In MRSA's case, only a few antibiotics still work, and no one knows how long that will last.
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