Health news - Investigation after superbug kills sick baby at UCLH
Published: 2 September, 2010
by TOM FOOT
A SICK baby born prematurely at University College London hospital died after contracting a rare superbug.
Four babies were infected with the “gram-negative” bacterium in the neonatal unit of the £70million Elizabeth Garrett Anderson wing of the Euston Road hospital.
The superbug, which had become invisible to antibiotics, contributed to the death of one baby.
Two others died of unrelated causes, a hospital spokesman said, and one baby survived.
The babies were all described as already “seriously ill”, having been born weeks earlier than expected in July.
But, following a six-week probe that ended this week, 15 babies at the unit were found to be carrying several types of the bacteria in their bloodstream.
A UCLH spokesman said: “During July we became concerned because we found particular bacteria on routine surveillance.
We responded accordingly, including increased cleaning and changing our routine antibiotics to those which we knew would kill these organisms.
“Development of antibiotic resistance is unfortunately a common occurrence for all neonatal units, even more so in units such as ours which care for the most premature babies.”
The superbug, which has not been found on hospital wards before, included elements of E Coli, Klebsiella, pneumoniae, Enterobacter and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa. They are types of bacteria that resist standard antibiotics given to sick babies.
The superbug would not have affected healthy babies – but those with a weak immune system were vulnerable.
The spokesman added: “Premature babies are very susceptible to infection because of their fragile skin and immature organ systems. Everyone carries bacteria on their skin and in their gut.”
A Health Protection Agency spokesman said: “Premature babies are vulnerable to these types of infection, which are opportunistic and tend to affect the vulnerable, very young, elderly or those with a weakened immune system.“The HPA is continuing to work with UCLH to monitor the situation.”
Following a deep clean, there have been no further outbreaks at the hospital.