Antibiotic resistant superbug detected

A SUPERBUG bacterium resistant to antibiotics has been detected at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH), NSW Health says.

Routine screening has identified 13 cases of Vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE) at the hospital.

Everybody carries the enterococci bacteria, NSW Health says, but only a small number of people develop the mutant strain VRE, which is resistant to antibiotics.

A spokeswoman for RNSH says the patients who have tested positive to VRE have been isolated and wards and bathrooms are undergoing additional cleaning.

Having VRE does not affect the treatment of the patient's primary illness and staff members, general patients and the community are not at any risk, the spokeswoman said.