Third baby dies after hospital infection

The Royal Maternity Hospital in Belfast announced on Thursday that two babies had died, and confirmed a third death on Friday morning.

It is understood that seven babies in total have been infected by the disease, including the three who have died, two others who have made full recovery, one who recovered from disease but died of another cause and one other baby who is still being treated.

The deaths are thought to be linked to an outbreak of a pseudomonas infection and the hospital has launched an investigation to find the trace of the killer bug.

In the meantime, Northern Ireland’s biggest maternity unit will undergo a deep clean. Staff believe the infection has not spread to other areas of the site.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause infection in the chest, blood and urine and is particularly harmful to those who are already ill, or with reduced immune systems.

Dr Richard Wright, associate medical director at the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust said: “We are engaged in a fairly major investigation to identify the cause of the infection.”

The first two babies to die were born prematurely.

Admissions to the unit have been restricted to all but the most seriously ill babies who cannot be treated elsewhere.

Northern Ireland health minister Edwin Poots said expectant mothers are likely to be transferred to other hospitals in the Irish Republic and Britain.

Mr Poots said he was deeply saddened by the three deaths and added that allnecessary steps were being taken to reduce the risk of the infection spreading.

“It is important that we remain calm. Infection control teams are now in the process of trying to identify the source of the infection and minimise the risk of spread to other babies in the unit,” he said.

“Babies in neonatal units are already vulnerable due to clinical conditions and varying degrees of prematurity. This makes them less able to withstand infections including those that would not cause problems in healthy babies.”