A female patient who contracted a rare bug that appears to be resistant to most effective antibiotics has died in a Scottish hospital.

The patient, who was in her fifties, was treated in Monklands Hospital in North Lanarkshire, after being infected by a rare organism known as Glycopeptide-Intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (GISA).

All patients, staff and close family members who may have come into physical contact with the patient have been identified and screening is being offered as a precautionary measure.

The bug has increased resistance to the main antibiotics used for treating MRSA infections, vancomycin and teicoplanin.

It is not thought to pose a threat to the public.

Some facts about the bug:

• Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that lives harmlessly in the noses of around 20-30% of healthy people in the population

• It only causes problems when it invades the body through wounds, causing infections and in serious cases blood poisoning

• About 100,000 patients a year pick up infections in hospitals

• The organism infected a hospital patient in England last month.

Dr Alistair Leanord, infection control microbiologist, said the patient was given all available treatment.

He said: "All appropriate antibiotic therapy was provided for this patient and rapid infection control procedures were implemented.

"All patients, staff and close family members who might have come into physical contact with the patient in the Intensive Therapy Unit during the same period have been identified and screening is being offered as a precautionary measure.

The hospital said there was little public risk

"Notification has also been provided to all other staff within the hospital and to local general practitioners."

Dr Jim Miller, Public Health Consultant for NHS Lanarkshire, said there was little risk to the public.

He said it was rare to find any transmission of the organism from person to person and the hospital had taken every precaution necessary.

Dr Stephanie Dancer, of the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH), echoed those views.

She said there was little evidence to suggest the bug could spread.

"We have been working closely with Monklands Hospital on this and are satisfied the patient received the appropriate management in line with infection control practice and that all steps have been taken to minimise the risk of any spread," Dr Dancer said.

Dr John Browning, medical director for NHS Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals, said it was impossible to eradicate hospital infections.

He said: "We put significant effort into minimising the risk of infections with stringent infection control measures along with audit and monitoring controls."

Anyone with concerns or wishing further information on screening can contact 01236 747133.