CNN: Three Babies Have Died from Bacterial Infection at a Pennsylvania Hospital

(Editor’s Note: Wow, how incredibly sad. I was recently at Sanoviv, the only integrative hospital in the world, where they filtered all of their water. They didn’t use dirty tap like this hospital, who admitted they have to do checks regularly on their tap water, which is probably full of carcinogens and bacteria. RIP to the babies.)

Eight premature infants were infected with a waterborne bacteria while in a neonatal intensive care unit of a Pennsylvania hospital. Three of the infants have died.

The babies were in the NICU at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania. One baby is still receiving treatment, and four others have recovered, said Geisinger Medical Center spokesman Joseph Stender.

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All of the infected babies were born prematurely, Matthew Van Stone, director of media relations at the hospital, told CNN.

The hospital discovered the infection, caused by the pseudomonas bacteria, in July, and the deaths happened in the past two months. This waterborne bacteria causes one of the most common hospital-acquired infections and can create severe symptoms in those with compromised immune systems. According to Van Stone, the July infection was in an older infant who survived. He said:

“In many cases, the immune system can withstand the bacteria without symptoms. In fragile individuals such as premature infants or the elderly, the resulting infection can cause significant illness.”¹

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The CDC states that the bacteria grows in water and is “found widely”¹ in the environment.

Van Stone said the hospital has taken “extensive measures”¹to stamp out the infection and make sure there are no more cases. These steps include “achieving optimal chlorination in water lines, improving and maintaining vigilance in donor breast milk processing, routine tap water cultures, increased deep cleaning of our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and many others.”¹

The CDC, the hospital, and the state department of health are investigating the unfortunate situation. Van Stone said he’s not aware of any litigation “at this time”¹ against the hospital linked to the infections.

Source:

1. CNN