Infection Kills Infant in Toronto
The neonatal intensive care unit at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto remains closed after a premature baby died from the microbe serratia. Four other babies at the hospital also have tested positive for the serratia. Allison McGeer, the hospital's director of infection control, says that "this bacteria is not terribly uncommon so we don't know yet whether the other babies who are colonized have the same serratia as the baby that was infected."
McGeer said that the baby died of bacteremia, also known as blood poisoning. McGeer went on to clarify that "all of us who are grown up have serratia in our bowels; it's not a threat to us. It's a specific threat because it causes severe infection in very premature babies." Hospital officials are looking into the incident further.
Related Links:
Legal View: Environmental Toxins
Neonatal Unit Shut After Infection Kills Baby
Investigation Under Way After Baby Dies
Neonatal Care Unit at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital to Remain Closed
Breastfeeding and Breast Milk Can Reduce Baby’s Pain