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Baby deaths: Bio cops on track
12/03/2004 22:26 - (SA)
Michele O'Connor
Bloemfontein - A dirty filter in a laminated extractor cabinet in the Pelonomi Hospital's pharmacy could have contaminated intravenous fluids, resulting in the deadly bacterial infection of six babies earlier this week.
The Volksblad newspaper discovered on Friday the cabinet was not cleaned often enough, nor was it replaced as it should have been.
A laminated extractor cabinet is used as a sterile environment where formulas are mixed.
According to an expert who works with these machines, their filters and glass housings should be cleaned often.
A Johannesburg company is usually used to clean the filters and the glass housing has to be cleaned with chlorexidon, a cleaning product.
As far as the mixing process is concerned, staff are supposed to use sterile packs, gloves and masks to prevent contamination.
Under no circumstances, should the formula come into contact with the open air, which is bacteria-riddled.
Test samples for bacteria content
The Volksblad also found that if the correct procedure was followed, the formula should be made up every 24 hours.
Staff are supposed to take regular samples of the formula and test it for bacteria content.
The parents of one of the dead babies are adament that their child died because of negligence by the hospital.
Elke de Witt, spokesperson for the department of health, said on Friday the deaths were being investigated from all angles to ensure that all information was gathered.
She said a private company has been appointed to determine whether the bacteria did originate in the hospital's pharmacy.
Their investigation showed up a blocked tube. But, this could not be linked to the contamination, she said.
Allegations of dirty filters in the extractor cabinet were unfounded as the bacteria was found to have not been airborne, but had been passed on by human contact.
The results of microbiology, biochemical and toxicology tests were not yet available, she said.
- Volksblad
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