30 patients in isolation due to bacteria at Milwaukee hospital

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Around 30 patients are temporarily being kept in isolation at Aurora Sinai Medical Center in downtown Milwaukee because a single patient has been found to be Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) positive.

An internal memo acquired by FOX6 News says, “These organisms can be spread from person to person by direct contact with the infected person or by contact with infected body fluids...In our case, this involves screening about 30 patients currently at Aurora Sinai who are on the same unit or floor as the patient who tested positive.”

The hospital says the patients are being treated with precautions and in isolation until the test results are returned. Caregivers who worked on the unit or floor were contacted but do not need to be screened at this time.

The Chief Clinical Officer for Aurora, Bruce Van Cleave, says about 50 percent of those who have this infection die. It is resistant to many antibiotic treatments, sometimes originating with a urinary tract infection, an intestinal problem or a bloodstream issue.

Van Cleave expects the results to be returned in a matter of days.

Learn more about CRE from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by CLICKING HERE.