The infection which has disrupted cancer services at St James's Hospital, Dublin, may have its origins in a growth-promoter included in animal feed until 1997. The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development confirmed yesterday that the antibiotic, avoparcin, was used in animal feed in Ireland as in other countries until the European Commission banned its use, under pressure from Denmark and Germany in particular.
Both countries had already banned the drug because of fears it was leading to the transfer of a resistant bacterium to humans through the food chain.
The resistant bacterium, Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE), has caused serious disruption to services at the hospital's haemotology/oncology unit, which includes the National Bone Marrow Transplant Unit.
This unit is now closed to new patients with leukaemia and certain other cancers, possibly for months. Patients in need of transplants will be sent to hospitals in the UK and the US as well as the Republic.
The Bone Marrow Transplant Support Group yesterday praised the "excellent work" of staff at the unit, and welcomed measures taken by the Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin, to deal with the situation, but said it was "particularly unfortunate that patients having to undergo a difficult and arduous procedure will now have the additional stress of having to travel abroad". email: pomorain@irish-times.ie