Baby dies at new hospital from infection with five others affected
Baby dies at new hospital from infection with five others affected
WORLD CURRENT NEWS
A newborn baby has died in hospital after being struck down with an infection which has affected five other infants.
The premature baby, which suffered existing medical problems, died this weekend after contracting the Serratia marcescens infection linked to the new Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children.
The child died within the neonatal unit within the maternity unit at the hospital and it has been revealed five other infants were also affected.
NHS bosses say they are "colonised" with Serratia marcescens and are "not giving any cause for concern". Colonisation is where bacteria are present in the body but cause no harm.
The health board's public health protection unit and infection control team are now investigating. The increase in cases of the infection was identified in July and has been closely monitored.
A statement from NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (NHSGGC) says "all appropriate infection control procedures are in place and the situation continues to be monitored closely".
A further seven babies, who are no longer in the hospital, were confirmed as having Serratia marcescens during that period.
Not all the cases involve the same strain of the organism and investigations to establish any links are continuing.
The unit will continue to admit new patients.
Alan Mathers, chief of medicine for women and children's services, said: "Our deepest sympathies are with the family of the baby who has so sadly passed away.
"None of the five babies in the unit who are colonised are giving cause for concern as a result of the colonisation.
"Serratia marcescens can be naturally occurring in the gut and its presence on or in the body (colonisation) is not harmful in healthy people.
"However given the vulnerability of premature babies, Serratia marcescens infections, where the colonised bacteria gets into the bloodstream, can occur.
"Since the increase in incidence of Serratia marcescens colonisation cases was indentified as part of our routine surveillance we have been closely monitoring the situation in line with national guidance.
"Given that there are no other cases of infection and that all the appropriate infection control procedures are in place the unit will continue to admit new patients as normal.
"Our staff are in communication with the families to keep them fully informed."
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