Parents who are thrust into the world of dealing with a premature birth often vacillate between horror and hope. Although there are a number of things that parents expect to go wrong, an outside force being the culprit is somewhat low on the list, especially while your baby is still in the hospital.
Sadly, two Italian families are in mourning after their premature infants died within an hour of each other at the San Maurizio Hospital in the northern Italian city of Bolzano, officials said, according to CNN.
The infants were reportedly born at 1.54 pounds each three weeks ago in their respective 23rd and 27th weeks of gestation and were diagnosed with an infection caused by the germ Serratia marcescens. The microbe has been linked to dishwashing soap the hospital used, according to Josef Widmann, the medical director of the South Tyrolean Health Authority.
“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 explained during a media conference. “This germ is generally harmless to healthy individuals; however, for very premature babies, the infection is potentially lethal.”
According to the New York Post, the remaining 10 infants in the neonatal unit were moved to reduce risk of exposure, despite all the soap being recalled at the hospital.
“At the Bolzano hospital, we have implemented all preventive measures to prevent the transmission of germs. The ward staff strictly adheres to hygiene measures,” said Dr. Monika Zaebisch, the hospital’s medical director, per CNN. “Unfortunately, these two cases could not be prevented.”
The Bolanzo Public Prosecutor’s Office is still determining if it will order autopsies performed on the babies to conclude whether their deaths were malpractice.
