Second KPC case in Santo Tomas Hospital

A second case of the bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase,(KPC)   resistant to antibiotics   has been found in Panama’s Santo Hospital (HST). Says the Ministry of health.

The latest case  is a 22-year- old, who was transferred  from the intensive care unit of the San Fernando Hospital ??on  September 10. 

HST’s director , Elijah Mayorga, said that the patient is stable,  and receiving appropriate treatment.

Tests have been carried out on people who had contact with the patient, and results will be confirmed by the Gorgas Memorial Institute.

The first confirmed case of KPC at Santo Tomas  was a 15 year old from the Nicolás Solano Hospital district of La Chorrera.

Over 50 patients died  from KPC in the intensive care unit of Panama’s Social Security hospital, earlier in the year, leading to a major transfer  of patients to another hospital.