Two Babies Die after Hospital E Coli Outbreak
Hospital E-Coli case
30/10/2008
Two premature babies have died after becoming infected with a drug-resistant strain of E Coli in hospital. Two further babies are infected with the bacteria in the neonatal intensive care unit of Luton and Dunstable Hospital, while a further seven have the bacteria in their gut but are not infected.
Hospital spokesman Barry Mayes said the two dead babies did not die because of the E Coli infection, but that it was "likely to have contributed". The remaining two infected babies are critically ill.
An investigation is being carried out into the outbreak, which is the ESBL antibiotic-resistant strain. Many people carry it in their gut without falling ill, but sick or premature babies whose immune systems are not developed are particularly at risk of infection. The parents of all babies in the unit have been told and the hospital is carrying out testing to identify the source. The babies are being treated and extra cleaning measures have been brought in to try to stop the spread to other infants.
The hospital's neonatal intensive care unit provides the highest level of care for premature babies and caters for sick babies from across the region. The unit has now closed to babies from other hospitals, and visiting is restricted to parents only. Those who are born at the hospital and need special care will be tested for the bacteria. It is the first outbreak of this strain of E Coli at the hospital. There have been two other separate cases of the same strain in adults at Luton and Dunstable this year.
Mr Mayes said: "The situation is now under control – there have been no new cases of ESBL in the unit since 13 October when the outbreak was declared. Special measures were immediately introduced for cleaning and the unit closed to any more admissions from outside the hospital. The hospital has an excellent track record in controlling infections and is working closely with the Health Protection Agency to ensure best practice in controlling the infection."