The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice for Tijuana, Mexico after some US residents who retuned were diagnosed with infections caused by an antibiotic-resistant form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.

Image/CDC
Image/CDC

All of the travelers with this particular infection had an invasive medical procedure performed in Tijuana, CDC notes. Most (but not all) of them had weight-loss surgery. About half of those infected had their surgery done at the Grand View Hospital.

The Mexican government has closed the Grand View Hospital until further notice.

CDC recommends that travelers to Mexico not have surgery (including weight-loss surgery) at Grand View Hospital in Tijuana, until the Mexican government can confirm that the drug-resistant form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria is no longer there.

Medical tourism: Risks and safety considerations

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a type of bacteria, is a common cause of health care-associated infections associated with significant morbidity and mortality.

Pseudomonas infections of the blood, lungs (pneumonia), and after surgery can lead to severe illness and death.

Drug-resistant Pseudomonas bacteria do not respond to most commonly available antibiotics.

Medical tourism: CDC recommends that people do not have surgical procedures at the CIPLA clinic in the Dominican Republic

CDC offers the following  information and advice for US residents planning to travel abroad for medical care:

  • See a travel medicine specialist in the United States at least a month before your trip. Travel medicine specialists can provide you with the guidance, vaccines, and medicines you may need for your travel.
  • Ask your doctor if you are healthy enough to travel abroad for medical or surgical procedures.
  • Research the health care provider who will perform your procedure, as well as the clinic or hospital where you will be receiving care. Be aware that standards for providers and clinics abroad may be different from those in the United States.
  • Look for clinics and hospitals accredited by international organizations. Remember that using an internationally accredited facility is not a guarantee that your medical care will be free of complications.
  • Ask the clinic or hospital to provide you with copies of all of your medical records. If possible, these records should be in English. Bring them with you to any follow-up appointments you have