Amsterdam hospital halts patient intake over resistant bacteria

The VUmc in Amsterdam halted patient intake in its intensive care and medium care departments for 48 hours, due to an outbreak of antibiotic resistant bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii. Patients currently hospitalized in these departments can also not leave the hospital, RTL Nieuws reports.

The hospital has been struggling with this bacteria for over two weeks. "Despite strict isolation measures, intensive cleaning and extra hygiene measures in recent weeks, more infections were unfortunately found this week", the hospital said in a statement.

According to the VUmc, the bacteria rarely causes infection, but if a person is infected, he or she will need special antibiotics.

No patients will be taken in, or leave, the hospital's intensive- and medium care departments until Thursday night.