A criminal investigation was opened after the death of two premature babies a few hours from the other in the night between August 12 and 13 at San Maurizio hospital in the city in northern Bolzano, officials announced.
Infants, born three weeks ago – one in the 23rd week of gestation and the other in the 27th week of gestation – were diagnosed with an infection caused by the Serratia Marcescens germ, a common microbe which is only dangerous for people with compromise health problems. The newborns each weighed around 700 grams (1.54 pounds).
The germ was linked to the dishwasher soap used at the hospital, according to Josef Widmann, medical director of the South Tyrolean Health Authority, who declared Thursday during a press conference that all the industrial dish soap used by the Bolzano hospital system had been recalled.
“In addition to the serious problems resulting from their extreme prematurity, the two children were diagnosed with a infection by Serratia Marcescens, a germ widespread in the environment, present in water, soil, plants, animals and humans, among others,” said Widmann at the press conference. “This germ is generally harmless for healthy individuals; However, for very premature babies, infection is potentially fatal. ”
DRE Monika Zaebisch, hospital medical director, said the establishment had stopped accepting premature high -risk babies in its neonatal service during the investigation. The hospital transfers 10 high-risk babies who were in the same service as the newborns who died in another service to ensure that they are not exposed to any contaminated material.
“At the Bolzano hospital, we implemented all preventive measures to prevent the transmission of germs,” Zaebisch said on Thursday. “The district staff are strictly adhered to hygiene measures. Unfortunately, these two cases could not be prevented.
The director of the Pierpaolo Bertoli hospital said that the infection had been identified in the two babies when they started to have symptoms.
“Unfortunately, babies then developed a septicemia, which turned out to be fatal later,” he said on Thursday. “The presence of this bacteria is not unique because it constantly presents a risk for neonatal intensive care units, not so much because of the type of germ but because of the particular vulnerability of these small patients because of their immature immune system.”
The national anti-corruption unit of the Carabinieri military police (NAS) investigates the case and the Bolzano prosecutor’s office will determine whether it is advisable to order autopsies on infants to determine whether accusations of professional misconduct or manslaughter are justified.
The tragedy occurs weeks after the death of three people of an alleged poisoning of botulism in the south of the country.
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