12 MRSA Cases Confirmed At Pittsburgh's Children's Hospital

PITTSBURGH, PA - UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh has confirmed cases of MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in its neonatal intensive care unit, UPMC announced Monday.

MRSA is a type of bacteria that is resistant to several antibiotics, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In some cases, it causes pneumonia and other infections. If left untreated, MRSA infections can become severe and cause sepsis, which can lead to septic shock - a severe and potentially fatal condition.

Six neonatal intensive care patients have tested positive for MRSA and one of those patients is potentially symptomatic, according to a UPMC statement. Several staff have come forward with potential symptoms, of which six have been confirmed to have MRSA to date and are being appropriately treated.

UPMC says it has notified the Allegheny County Health department and the Pennsylvania Department of Health and is "collaborating to ensure the safest possible environment for patient care." Isolation protocols and infection control procedures are in place.