Rome
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A prison investigation has been opened after two premature babies died inside hours of one another on the evening between August twelfth and thirteenth in the San Maurizio Hospital in the northern Italian metropolis of Bolzano, officers mentioned.
The infants, each born three weeks in the past—one in the twenty third week of gestation and the opposite in the twenty seventh week of gestation—had been identified with an an infection attributable to the germ Serratia Marcescens, a typical microbe that’s harmful solely to individuals with compromising well being situations. The newborns every weighed about 700 grams (1.54 kilos).
The germ has been linked to the dishwashing soap used in the hospital, in line with Josef Widmann, the medical director of the South Tyrolean Health Authority, who mentioned in a information convention Thursday that all the industrial dish soap utilized by the Bolzano hospital system has been recalled.
“In addition to the serious problems resulting from their extreme prematurity, both children were diagnosed with an infection by Serratia marcescens , a germ widespread in the environment, present in water, soil, plants, animals and humans, among other things,” Widmann mentioned throughout the information convention. “This germ is generally harmless to healthy individuals; however, for very premature babies, the infection is potentially lethal.”
Dr. Monika Zaebisch, the medical director of the hospital, mentioned that the power has stopped accepting high-risk premature babies in its neonatal ward throughout the investigation. The hospital is transferring 10 high-risk babies who had been in the identical ward because the deceased newborns to a distinct ward to make sure they don’t seem to be uncovered to any contaminated supplies.
“At the Bolzano hospital, we have implemented all preventive measures to prevent the transmission of germs,” Zaebisch mentioned Thursday. “The ward staff strictly adheres to hygiene measures. Unfortunately, these two cases could not be prevented. On August 12, we decided not to accept any further high-risk births. We have agreed with the Trento hospital that they will accept premature babies so that no child is exposed to risk.”
Hospital director Pierpaolo Bertoli mentioned that the an infection was recognized in each babies once they began exhibiting signs.
“Unfortunately, the babies later developed sepsis, which later proved fatal,” he mentioned Thursday. “The presence of this bacterium is not unique because it constantly poses a risk to neonatal intensive care units, not so much because of the type of germ but because of the particular vulnerability of these little patients due to their immature immune systems.”
The National Anti-Corruption Unit of the Carabinieri navy police (NAS) is investigating the matter and the Bolzano Public Prosecutor’s workplace will decide whether or not to order autopsies on the infants to find out if costs of malpractice or manslaughter are warranted.
The tragedy comes weeks after three individuals died of suspected botulism poisoning in the south of the nation.