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Panel lists reasons for infection at SAT

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The five-member committee constituted by the Government to go into the death of new-borns at the SAT Hospital following hospital-acquired infections, has, in its report, pointed out that lack of separate nursing staff for the neonatal intensive care unit and non-availability of an alternative nursery to shift infected babies are the primary reasons for the infection to have lingered on in the new-born nursery, despite efforts at disinfection.

The committee's interim report, which was submitted to the Government on Friday, has said that the principles of "barrier nursing" was not implemented at the SAT Hospital and that sick as well as "clean" babies were kept in the same nursery, with just one or two nurses looking after all of them.

As there was no place to shift infected babies, the IBN was never properly disinfected, allowing pathogenic bacteria to remain inside.

An increased tendency for infection in new-borns was observed by authorities in December 2006, following which appropriate measures were taken by the hospital authorities to disinfect the emergency theatre, labour room and IBN. However, the follow-up measures were not sufficient and hence there was a resurgence of infection in March this year, due to sudden overcrowding and the lack of adequate staff for cleaning.

The committee has reported that the labour room and theatre cots at SAT are cleaned and wiped with antiseptic solutions after each case. However, time for air-drying was not there as the next patient is ready to occupy the cots. Lack of staff has resulted in the same person doing multiple jobs, including handling of babies, and this could be a source for infection, the report said. The large number of visitors has also resulted in poor hospital hygiene. The new-born nursery is not ideally located as it is close to the verandah frequented by visitors.

The committee has recommended that further admission to the present IBN be stopped and that once all babies are discharged, it should be properly disinfected and fumigated. Babies not requiring critical care should be kept with the mothers.

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