Premature baby dies of suspected bacterial infection caught in top New Jersey hospital – as officials reveal four more infants are sickened
- The baby died of a bacterial infection in late September, officials revealed on Thursday
- At least four infants have contracted life-threatening Acinetobacter baumannii at University Hospital in Newark in the past month
- Acinetobacter baumannii can cause pneumonia or serious blood infections
- Initial investigations reveal ‘major infection control deficiencies’ at the hospital
- The cases are not related to the virus which has infected 19 patients and killed seven at a pediatric rehabilitation center in New Jersey
A premature baby has died from a suspected bacterial infection contracted in a New Jersey hospital, health officials reveal.
At least four infants have contracted life-threatening Acinetobacter baumannii at University Hospital in Newark in the past month, officials reveal.
But late last night Health Department officials one of those infants died at the end of September.
Initial investigations reveal ‘major infection control deficiencies’ at the hospital.
At least four infants have contracted life-threatening Acinetobacter baumannii at University Hospital in Newark in the past month, officials reveal
Acinetobacter baumannii can cause pneumonia or serious blood or wound infections.
The cases are not related to the virus which has infected 19 patients and killed seven at a pediatric rehabilitation center in New Jersey.
The baby that died this week had the bacteria and was transferred to another facility, where they died.
The department says the exact cause of death is under investigation because of compounding medical conditions.
‘University Hospital takes patient safety, including infection control, very seriously,’ a hospital spokesperson said.
‘We have been in regular communication with the Department of Health and continue to work closely with them to address this issue as quickly as possible.’