GUAGUA, Philippines — Provincial health officials of the Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Hospital (DMMH) here Sunday announced that medical facility has resumed operations after being shut down for 10 days to prevent the spread of the bacteria that causes the deadly pseudomonas aeroginosa infection.

Dr. Eddie G. Ponio, provincial health officer 1 and DMMH administrator, said that since Wednesday morning the provincial hospital has resumed admitting patients.

The admission of patients was suspended and the hospital’s operations limited to emergency cases and out-patient department (OPD) consultations only to enable the hospital management implement urgent measures in the wake of the pseudomonas aeroginosa infection.

Ponio said that last August 14, a burn patient from Guagua was admitted in the hospital. He underwent culture of sensitivity test of his burned wound on September 2 which revealed positive result of pseudomonas aeroginosa infection. The result was released on September 6.

Ponio immediately instructed case tracking of the patient, called for emergency meetings and ordered the suspension of admissions.

He also ordered the department heads to submit detailed plan of action and reported the matter to Governor Lilia G. Pineda through Provincial Administrator Andres S. Pangilinan Jr. and Dr. Antonio Aquino, officer-in-charge of the provincial health office (PHO) including the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital (JBLMRH).

Ponio explained that “although the patient tested positively of pseudomonas aeroginosa infection was already isolated, the main concern in the stoppage of the hospital’s patients’ admission is the possible spread of the micro-organism to the whole hospital and might cause cross infection to other patients.”

“The operating room and the emergency room were used for the patient’s debridement and he was transported to and from the male surgical thus, exposing all these areas. All the instruments and equipments need to be clean, disinfect and sterilize thoroughly,” he added.

General cleaning and disinfections of the hospital were done thoroughly starting September 13 to break the chain of infection, to wit: Wall to wall scrubbing with soap and water; spraying with sodium hypochlorite solution; UV light exposure for 24 hours, autoclave of all instruments, linens, gowns, bedsheets; disinfecting of all sinks; and assignment of only one entry and exit area.

Universal precaution measures were strictly implemented such as proper hand washing techniques, using aseptic technique and wearing of proper personal protective equipment.

Information dissemination to other district hospitals in the province including the JBLMRH was also done, Ponio said.