Outbreak of antibiotic-resistant disease at Auckland City Hospital

Patients at Auckland City Hospital have been infected with a bacterial disease that is resistant to antibiotics.

Clinical director Mark Thomas today issued a short statement to the Herald.

He said infection control procedures are underway to contain the spread of vancomycin-resistant enterococci.

Mr Thomas was contacted directly for comment but declined to do so.

A public relations practitioner, Ben Peck, was asked how many people were infected but could not answer the question.

He was also asked how many wards had been infected but again could not answer.

Mr Peck told the Herald earlier this afternoon that he would be in contact with the information.

A short statement from the Auckland District Health Board said "a small number" of patients were affected.

Mr Thomas said patient care was not being affected and elective surgery was taking place as normal.