5 newborns test positive for drug-resistant bacteria at IGMH
The hospital is making arrangements to send the affected children abroad for further treatment.
The Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) has confirmed the presence of Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms (MDRO) in five newborns admitted to its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
The hospital is making arrangements to send the affected children abroad for further treatment.
According to a statement issued by IGMH on Thursday, the bacterium was first detected on 27 March in a premature infant born at 28 weeks. A sample taken from the infant tested positive for MDRO, after which the child was isolated. Additional testing of samples collected from the NICU subsequently confirmed four more cases.
All five newborns who tested positive were on ventilator support at the time of diagnosis. The hospital stated that the bacteria can develop in environments where critically ill patients receive treatment and are resistant to common antibiotics, which can lead to infection.
IGMH said that immediate control measures were implemented following the initial case to prevent further transmission. No new cases have been reported since 15 April.
The hospital reported that a total of 84 children have been treated in the NICU since March. As of now, 10 children remain under care, including the five who tested positive for MDRO.
“The five children are being treated in isolation under precautionary measures. Arrangements are underway to send the children abroad for further treatment,” the statement read.
IGMH said the children are receiving antibiotic treatment based on individual conditions. The hospital has also initiated extensive testing to identify potential sources of the bacteria in the NICU environment.
