Hospital bug kills babies

Two newborns have died and two others are in serious condition following an outbreak of a rare bacterial infection in the intensive-care unit of state-owned Al Wasl Hospital.

Hospital authorities told XPRESS that the hospital has partially shut down the intensive care unit and stopped admitting expectant mothers who are likely to develop birth-related complications.

An official statement from the hospital has confirmed the incidents. "Two newborn babies have died and two are in serious condition in the Premature and Newborn Department in Al Wasl Hospital due to infection caused by the bacteria called Serratia Marcescens," a hospital statement said, quoting its director.

Hospital director Dr Abdullah Al Khayyat said they have suspended admitting women pregnant with twins or likely to have a premature birth for delivery.

"A committee has been set up to investigate the deaths of the newborn babies. The babies in the beds near the two who died were given antibiotics while all others have been tested for bacterial infections," he added.

Dr Al Khayyat pointed out that the bacterium is likely to be found in busy hospitals.

"Admissions have risen by 150 per cent because of our high standards and low cost." He added that the hospital is under great pressure because of the large number of patients admitted.

Earlier, an official at the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) said: "The intensive care unit for premature infants has been shut down for maintenance. Any case requiring intensive care is sent to Dubai Hospital."

The hospital has also stopped administering delivery-inducing medicines among expectant mothers as a precautionary measure.

Mother inconsolable

Mirvat Al Wakil, 35, a Syrian mother who delivered twin sons at the hospital on December 24, lost one son, Abad, on January 4 after 11 days in the incubator.

Her surviving son, Jad, is in serious condition at the isolation section of the hospital with 12 other newborns.

Mirvat, whose request to shift Jad to another hospital was declined, complained about the shabby performance of hospital staff.

The babies were in the hospital's ICU incubators in order to gain more weight.

On January 2, at 11.30am she found Jad (who weighed 1.32 kg at birth) having breathing problems.

"The nurse came and just tapped his back. Jad's breathing stopped five times in a span of two minutes at around 2.30am on January 3."

A subsequent test found that his haemoglobin level was dangerously low and doctors prescribed blood transfusion. Blood taken from Rashid Hospital was given to Jad at 7.30am.

Later when Mirvat checked on Abad, she found him extremely pale, though doctors assured her that the baby was normal.

A check revealed Abad had a high fever and had difficulty breathing. He also had low haemoglobin. Abad was taken to the special care unit for a quick blood transfusion.

"I was watching from the other side of the glass window. It seems to me the trainee and the doctor struggled to find the vein. I saw baby's colour turn from pale to blue," said Mirvat.

"Then the doctor came outside screaming at me: ‘You're going to lose your baby because you're irritating us, you're nagging and complaining too much. The baby is very weak, and his vein can't take the blood and the bacteria have spread'."

Mirvat's account could not be verified with hospital authorities.

Overcrowding blamed

A senior official admitted the cause of the bacteria outbreak is overcrowding in the ICU, which currently holds twice its capacity of 32 newborns.

The official said: "Al Wasl is the cheapest hospital for maternity care and therefore we have both an influx of local and non-local patients. This has led to added pressure and the cause of the bacteria in all probability is overcrowding."

At the moment, the hospital is taking steps to ensure that the bacteria are contained. "The baby who has been infected with the bacteria is being monitored in the isolation cell. In the meantime, we are also screening the staff, equipment and the nursery area three times a day," said the official.

Another official said the hospital takes responsibility for the patient but does not take responsibility for the baby.

"Before delivery we ask parents to sign a consent form that in case the baby needs ICU we will not be held responsible as there is no space available. To avoid this we are not accepting such cases at the moment," she added.

The fatal bug

Serratia Marcescens is an infectious and harmful type of bacteria that can be fatal. It occurs almost exclusively within hospitals, spreading through the use of medical equipment like catheters and incubators.

Ten newborns died after contracting Serratia Marcescens (SM) at Mario Rivas, a hospital in Honduras, in March last year.

In 2005, an SM outbreak gripped the Royal Hospital in Sheffield, UK, targeting several inpatients and staff alike. A special bio-decontamination of its neonatal unit had to be carried out after heightened hygiene controls alone failed to stop the pathogen's spread.

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(With inputs from Faisal Masudi and Mohammed N. Al Khan, staff reporters)

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