Two premature babies die from suspected dish soap contamination in Italy
The infants, both born three weeks ago—one in the 23rd week of gestation and the other in the 27th week of gestation—were diagnosed with an infection caused by the germ Serratia Marcescens, a common microbe that is dangerous only to people with compromising health conditions. The newborns each weighed about 700 grams (1.54 pounds).
The germ has been linked to the dishwashing soap used in the hospital, according to Josef Widmann, the medical director of the South Tyrolean Health Authority, who said in a news conference Thursday that all of the industrial dish soap used by the Bolzano hospital system has been recalled.
'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 said during the news conference. 'This germ is generally harmless to healthy individuals; however, for very premature babies, the infection is potentially lethal.'
Dr. Monika Zaebisch, the medical director of the hospital, said that the facility has stopped accepting high-risk premature babies in its neonatal ward during the investigation. The hospital is transferring 10 high-risk babies who were in the same ward as the deceased newborns to a different ward to ensure they are not exposed to any contaminated materials.
'At the Bolzano hospital, we have implemented all preventive measures to prevent the transmission of germs,' Zaebisch said Thursday. 'The ward staff strictly adheres to hygiene measures. Unfortunately, these two cases could not be prevented. On August 12, we decided not to accept any further high-risk births. We have agreed with the Trento hospital that they will accept premature babies so that no child is exposed to risk.'
Hospital director Pierpaolo Bertoli said that the infection was identified in both babies when they started exhibiting symptoms.
'Unfortunately, the babies later developed sepsis, which later proved fatal,' he said Thursday. 'The presence of this bacterium is not unique because it constantly poses a risk to neonatal intensive care units, not so much because of the type of germ but because of the particular vulnerability of these little patients due to their immature immune systems.'
The National Anti-Corruption Unit of the Carabinieri military police (NAS) is investigating the matter and the Bolzano Public Prosecutor's office will determine whether to order autopsies on the infants to determine if charges of malpractice or manslaughter are warranted.
The tragedy comes weeks after three people died of suspected botulism poisoning in the south of the country.
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Seven rules for a healthy and happy retirement from the professors who study it
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'A 2015 Academy of Medical Royal Colleges' report described exercise as the 'miracle cure'.' Exercise improves the rate at which blood delivers oxygen and nutrients to muscles and organs, including the brain, while also clearing harmful waste. Preserving muscle protects against both physical and mental frailty. 'Our daily movement patterns are the strongest predictor of our mortality risk from all conditions, including those people fear the most: dementia, frailty and the need for social care.' A leisurely daily stroll, however, is only half the picture. In his book, Walking Cure, Gray recommends: 'A 'walking plus' programme: 30 minutes of walking a day for stamina and 10 minutes of exercises for strength, suppleness and skill. A set of weights and a session with a trainer is a far better 70th birthday present than a bottle of wine, and women especially should take action to increase the strength of both bones and muscle.' The goal is to build a movement habit that increases in both time and intensity. 'Build fitness, and bridge 'the fitness gap': how fit you are versus how fit you can be. The aim is to walk briskly and notice an increase in breathing rate and measure your progress.' To get started, Gray suggests logging your height, weight, BMI, resting pulse rate, any existing health conditions and age. Then, track the number of steps you take over seven days. A simple notepad will do, but wearable health trackers are becoming more affordable – Apple Watch, Google Pixel, the Whoop wristband, Ultrahuman rings or Garmin for keen walkers. 'I just use the NHS Active 10 app on my phone, which will soon be prescribed to everyone,' he says. 'I've gone from 31 mins a day of brisk walking in my sixties, to 32 minutes in my 70s, and 33 minutes in my 80s. I increased my plank from 80 seconds to 81 seconds this year, and when I hit 82, I will put another second on.' 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Mixing physical and social activity, he explains, maximises neuromuscular health beyond 'just plugging in your ear buds and going to the gym.' That could mean exercising with friends, joining a team sport or simply prioritising a face-to-face visit over a phone call. 'Half my patients have a history of stroke or dementia in their family, and having seen a sibling or a parent suffer they come to me to prevent going the same route. I always recommend they do physical activity with a friend or a group.' And for even greater benefits? 'Add meaning and purpose,' he says. 'Whether that's helping other people, walking to church or running a marathon for a charity. The evidence is that we get even more from an activity if it is active, social, and has a sense of purpose; in fact, even just anticipating doing an enjoyable and meaningful activity has some benefits.' 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'Here in the US we are seeing a resurgence of infectious diseases like measles in the young that we could have eliminated,' she says. In older populations, studies show that vaccine hesitancy is clearly linked with increased risk of death from flu, pneumonia and the dreaded Covid. 'With age our ability to respond to vaccines diminishes but vaccines still provide decent protection, although it isn't as robust as that seen for younger adults,' says Haynes. Hence it's really important that older adults keep up with regular boosters and don't be afraid of doubling up Covid and flu jabs in the same appointment. 'Some people with autoimmune issues or other medical concerns might need to be conservative with getting one or more vaccines at the same time and I'm guessing that they know who they are and can weigh the pros and cons. For the rest of us, even if the day after reaction is not very pleasant, I say get them both and stay in bed for a day. Think of it like a hangover, but better, one with a small period of suffering for big gains.' Be smart about sleep Prof Russell Foster, director of the University of Oxford's Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute and author of Life Time: the New Science of the Body Clock, and How It Can Revolutionise Your Sleep and Health, warns that ageing flattens our 'circadian drive for sleep.' The best way to reset the body's natural 24-hour clock, he says, is to 'Get outside. Get that photon shower in the morning light, which is consolidating signals to the clock that sets the sleep wake cycle.' A 2020 Swedish study found that moderate to severe sleep disturbance in later life strongly predicts health issues such as arthritis and dementia. Foster emphasises lifestyle solutions as the key. 'To stabilise sleep and circadian rhythms: wind down before bed, have a robust exposure to natural light, and try to move throughout the day. If you sit all day and have swollen ankles, the accumulated fluid will have to be integrated when you lie down, which will raise blood pressure and mean you have to pee out up to a litre of fluid as urine.' Shortcuts can backfire. 'Naps will push back 'sleep pressure', meaning you can nod off at night, but can't stay asleep.' Anything beyond occasional use of sleeping pills or anti-histamines is 'not helpful, they are not a mimic for sleep. They can not just further disrupt the sleep wake cycle but also contribute to cognitive decline.' He is 'not a fan' of melatonin and warns that 'alcohol disrupts sleep wake cycles, impairs memory formation and contributes to cycles of caffeine dependency that further disrupts sleep.' Become smart to sleep science, Foster advises: 'And then relax. Sleep has become a whole industry with the sergeant majors of sleep screaming so loud we are frightened of it. Stay calm. Waking up in the night is not a disaster, it's a default pattern of human sleep. Relax, read a bit and then let sleep resume naturally.' Clear cortisol with movement Stress is normal and necessary to all aspects of human existence, but it isn't just about work and it doesn't end on retirement. Dr Marie-Josée Richer, a lecturer at the Institute of Mental Health at the University of Montreal and author of two new studies on stress in older age, explains: 'As we get older, we are vulnerable to new kinds of stress, including health and finances, as well as 'emotional contagion' in which we are more prone to mirror the stress felt by people around us. This is twinned with a less efficient physiological ability to clear the stress hormone, cortisol, from the body.' Cortisol – the so-called stress hormone – is useful, giving a surge of energy to get up in the morning and deal with periods of adversity. 'But you don't want it hanging around, that's when it becomes chronic stress and that is harmful.' Fear not, though, or rather, stress not. 'Learn to have an awareness of what stress feels like and then act to clear the cortisol from the body with movement. Any movement will work: walking, physical exercise, dancing, or a simple breathwork method like belly breathing, also called diaphragm breathing, singing, saying prayers, reciting a poem, or chanting. Any of these will signal to the brain that it's not stressful out there any more.' So, if you have a silly argument, go for a walk, sing, or take three deep breaths and notice a calming effect. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
