Latest news with #Zaebisch
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Two babies killed by infection linked to ‘contaminated washing up liquid' in hospital sparking urgent recall
All dish soap used by the hospital was quickly removed DEADLY SOAP FEARS Two babies killed by infection linked to 'contaminated washing up liquid' in hospital sparking urgent recall Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TWO babies have been killed by an infection reportedly linked to their hospital's contaminated dish soap - sparking an urgent recall. The premature tots weighed less than two pounds each when they mysteriously died just hours apart at the San Maurizio Hospital in Italy. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Two babies died at the San Maurizio Hospital in Bolzano, Italy Credit: South Tyrolean Health Service 4 Serratia marcescens is a species of bacteria linked to the dish soap used at the hospital Credit: Getty 4 The hospital will not be treating any high-risk infant patients in its neonatal ward during the probe Credit: South Tyrolean Health Service The pair had previously been diagnosed with an infection caused by Serratia marcescens, a deadly germ for those with underlying conditions. Both the babies were born three weeks ago, one the 23rd week of gestation and the other on the 27th. The babies tragically passed away within hours of each other between August 12 and 13. The babies developed sepsis from the fatal infection which was linked to the industrial dish soap at the hospital in Bolzano, about 150 miles south of the Italy-Austria border. The contamination was confirmed by Josef Widmann, the medical director of the South Tyrolean Health Authority. Hospital director Pierpaolo Bertoli said: 'The presence of this bacterium is not unique because it constantly poses a risk to neonatal intensive care units. 'This is 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.' All dish soap used by the Bolanzo hospital system was very quickly removed from the hospital. While the investigation is ongoing, the hospital will not be accepting any more high-risk premature babies, medical director of the hsopital Dr. Monika Zaebisch added. All other cases, in the meantime, will be diverted to hospitals in Trento, a different region nearly 40 miles outside of Bolzano. Woman, 45, becomes second person to die after eating 'toxic broccoli' as 17 others poisoned as veg recalled across Italy Zaebisch added: "At the Bolzano hospital, we have implemented all preventive measures to prevent the transmission of germs. "The ward staff strictly adheres to hygiene measures. Unfortunately, these two cases could not be prevented,' Zaebisch assured. Police have launched a probe into the infants' deaths. Authorities are weighing whether or not to order autopsies on the babies, which will help determine if charges of malpractice could be made. It comes after two people in Italy died after eating a toxic veggie and sausage sandwich in Italy. More than a dozen people were hospitalised after eating the poisoned sandwiches from a food truck near the town of Diamante in Calabria. Tamara D'Acunto, 45, died shortly after eating the panini made with turnip greens - a vegetable similar to broccoli - last week. Luigi Di Sarno, 52, also died after taking a fatal bite from a sandwich bought from the same vendor. In total, 17 other people have so far been hospitalised with food poisoning within 24 to 48 hours of eating the sandwiches. They all showed signs of botulism - an illness linked to the vegetable.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
2 premature babies die from infection linked to suspected dish soap contamination at Italy hospital as director warns ‘not unique' issue
Two premature babies weighing less than two pounds died last week after contracting infections officials believe came from contaminated dish soap at the Italian hospital where they were being treated. The two infants, born at 23 weeks and 27 weeks of gestation, respectively, were diagnosed with an infection spurred by Serratia marcescens, a common germ that can prove fatal to those with precarious health conditions. 4 Two infants died at a hospital in Italy after contracting infections linked to contaminated dish soap. South Tyrolean Health Service Both babies died between Aug. 12 and Aug. 13 after developing sepsis from the infection at the San Maurizio Hospital in Bolzano, just 150 miles south of the Italy-Austria border. They weighed about a pound and a half each. The germ was linked to the industrial dishwashing soap used at the hospital, which was all swiftly recalled, Josef Widmann, the medical director of the South Tyrolean Health Authority, said at a news conference, according to the local outlet L'Unione Sarda. 4 The babies were diagnosed with an infection spurred by Serratia marcescens, a common bacterium that can be fatal to at-risk newborns. Dr_Microbe – '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,' Hospital director Pierpaolo Bertoli said. All dish soap used by the Bolanzo hospital system was swiftly recalled, Widmann said. The hospital will also not be accepting any other high-risk premature babies into its system for treatment while the investigation is ongoing, Dr. Monika Zaebisch, the medical director of the hospital, said. 4 The San Maurizio Hospital in Bolzano, Italy will not be treating any more high-risk infant patients in its neonatal ward until the investigation concludes. South Tyrolean Health Service All other cases, in the meantime, will be diverted to hospitals in Trento, a different province nearly 40 miles outside of Bolzano. The remaining 10 infants in the neonatal ward were taken to a different wing to ensure they weren't exposed to any other contaminated materials, Zaebisch said. 4 The infants' infections lead them to become septic and die. South Tyrolean Health Service 'At the Bolzano hospital, we have implemented all preventive measures to prevent the transmission of germs. The ward staff strictly adheres to hygiene measures. Unfortunately, these two cases could not be prevented,' Zaebisch assured. Italy's National Anti-Corruption Unit of the Carabinieri military police launched an investigation into the infants' deaths. The Bolanzo Public Prosecutor's office will weigh whether or not to order autopsies on the small infants, which could help determine if their deaths warrant charges of malpractice. The confounding infections came just a week after a toxic botulism outbreak killed two and hospitalized 14 people, including two teenagers, who all ordered sandwiches from the same food truck in southwest Italy.
