Emergency: Acinetobacter and Klebsiella infections sweep through Rambam Hospital’s inpatient wards

Acinetobacter and Klebsiella infections have recently spread to Rambam Hospital’s inpatient wards, causing an outbreak of highly resistant bacteria and a dangerous fungus. This urgent situation has prompted the Haifa Medical Center to take immediate measures to control it. The affected bacteria include Acinetobacter and Klebsiella, as well as Candida auris fungus. While these bacteria do not pose a threat to healthy individuals, they can lead to life-threatening complications in patients with weakened immune systems.

One hypothesis suggests that the outbreak may be linked to the heavy workload of hospitalized patients at Rambam Hospital, which is known for its high occupancy rate in emergency rooms and inpatient wards. In response to the situation, medical teams are taking full precautions, including working in full shielding when moving between patients and not admitting new patients until the outbreak is under control. Families of patients visiting the wards are also being briefed on protective measures and strict hand cleanliness.

Acinetobacter is a particularly resistant bacterium, categorized by the World Health Organization as one of the most threatening bacteria. It is commonly found in hospitals and intensive care units, causing infections such as blood infections, lung infections, and infections in catheters and surgical wounds. Klebsiella is another highly resistant bacterium that is prevalent in hospitals and can lead to severe