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.
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.
Newborns contracted sepsis from a deadly infection attributed to the industrial dish soap used at a hospital in Bolzano, located approximately 150 miles from the Italy-Austria border.
The contamination was confirmed by Josef Widmann, the medical director of the South Tyrolean Health Authority.
According to hospital director Pierpaolo Bertoli, “The presence of this bacterium is common, as it consistently poses a threat to neonatal intensive care units.
“This is largely because of the heightened vulnerability of these infants, given their underdeveloped immune systems, rather than the specific germ itself.”
All dish soap used by the Bolanzo hospital system was very quickly removed from the hospital.
In light of the ongoing investigation, the hospital is currently not admitting any more high-risk premature infants, stated Dr. Monika Zaebisch, the hospital’s medical director.
All other cases, in the meantime, will be diverted to hospitals in Trento, a different region nearly 40 miles outside of Bolzano.
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.
