Orange Juice singer has 'superbug'
LONDON, England -- Edwyn Collins, the former singer of 1980s British indie band Orange Juice, has contracted the hospital superbug MRSA after having emergency surgery.
Collins was recovering from a life-saving operation in February following two brain hemorrhages, when the disease infected a surgical scar.
But his wife, Grace Maxwell, said Thursday 45-year-old Collins had since battled back and delighted doctors at Royal Free Hospital in north London with his progress.
She denied reports that the Scot, best known for his 1995 solo hit A Girl Like You and 1983's Rip It Up with his band Orange Juice, was fighting for his life.
She told the Daily Record newspaper: "Edwyn does have MRSA and has had it for a few weeks but he has turned the corner and is now doing absolutely fine.
"He contracted it in the wound site as a result of the operation but he received treatment and has come along brilliantly.
"He has had further surgery to remove the infected tissue and is fighting back, just as he has done all along."
Maxwell said doctors at the hospital were "very happy" with Collins' recovery and his family were hoping he would soon be able to go into rehabilitation.
On Monday she posted a message on the pop star turned producer's Web site saying that Collins was feeling "quite well in himself."
"This infection has been very difficult to get under control, although I'm hopeful we're turning the corner," she said.
"In spite of having missed out on weeks of valuable rehab time, he continues to feel quite well in himself and is working as hard as he can in the circumstances.
"So he continues to progress at a pace."
In a statement, the hospital said Collins' family had expressed their "gratitude and support" for its care but had asked it not to comment on his condition.
"Unconnected to any individual case it is true that hospital acquired infections are always a risk with major surgery," the statement added.
"Hospital acquired infections are taken extremely seriously by the trust and robust systems are in place to deal with them.
"The Royal Free carries out active surveillance to ensure that any episodes that do occur are promptly and speedily managed."
