With a probe underway into the recent deaths of seven babies at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital, Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton says it appears that the newborns contracted a bacterial infection from their mothers.
The deaths are said to be as a result of sepsis, a potentially deadly condition that occurs when certain fungi, bacteria or parasites attack critical organs in newborns.
"It appears as if the bacteria was transferred from the mother to child ... but I would prefer to wait on the report from the team ... I will also make the report public, except where we have to protect the confidentiality of patients," he said.
The Health Minister said a four-member committee has been appointed to probe the deaths of the babies and a report is expected within a week.
Meanwhile, two medical doctors have weighed in on the bacterial infection, suspected to have caused the deaths of the babies.
Dr. Lisa Kirven Dawes and Dr. Winston Dawes, who were both guests on the programme Doctors Orders said it is not unusual for bacteria from a mother to be passed on to her baby during delivery.
Winston Dawes, who is a former Senior Medical Officer at the May Pen Hospital, said there are trillions of bacteria in delivery rooms.
Meanwhile, the Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) is calling for the Health Ministry to provide details on the committee established to probe the deaths of the babies at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital.
President of the association, says the MAJ, will be keeping a close watch on the matter after an outbreak of klebsiella and serratia bacterial infections led to the deaths of several premature babies at two of the island's major hospitals last year.
comments powered by Disqus
All feeds
