Bacterial Outbreak Suspected in Novokuznetsk Infant Deaths

Over the past two weeks, various theories have been proposed in the region regarding the deaths of newborns at the Novokuznetsk maternity hospital, ranging from intrauterine infections and prematurity to medical staff errors. Epidemiologist and Russian Academy of Sciences academician Gennady Onishchenko, in a conversation with the publication aif.ru on Saturday, January 24, stated that the cause of the infants« deaths was a bacterial outbreak and unsanitary conditions at the facility, which was also confirmed by one of the mothers of a deceased infant, who was told this by staff.

The academician believes that the children«s deaths were caused by an outbreak of the bacterium Serratia marcescens, which is also called the »wonder blood bacillus« or »drops of the Lord«s blood.» He also indicated that the tragedy could have occurred due to gross violations of sanitary regulations at the maternity hospital.

One of the mothers, whose infant was the last to die in this maternity hospital, reported on social media about the presence of this bacterium in the facility. According to her, after a cesarean section at 30 weeks, her child was left in intensive care because his weight was about 1500 grams.

«The child was gaining weight well and breathing on his own. The last time I saw him, he was in normal condition, all tubes had been removed, I held him in my arms, and he was eating independently from a bottle. They said the documents were ready, and most likely by the end of the week he would be transferred to the pathology department, where I could later stay with him for care,» says a resident of Novokuznetsk.

After which, on January 8, a quarantine was imposed at the facility, and the newborn«s condition began to deteriorate rapidly. The post stated that by January 12, his kidneys had stopped working and necrosis occurred in his hands and feet. When asked what was wrong with the baby, the mother was told that it was the Serratia bacteria.

«And so it went for all these days: sometimes the dynamics worsened, sometimes improved. On January 21, we were asked to come and talk with a doctor from St. Petersburg. When we arrived, we were invited to the intensive care unit, the doctor told us about the baby»s condition, said that the necrosis was taking a positive turn, and his hands and feet began to turn pink. But on January 22, we were informed that the child had died,« the woman said.

Serratia marcescens is a pathogenic microorganism that causes serious diseases such as sepsis and meningitis, and is particularly a cause of hospital-acquired infections.

Earlier, we reported all known information about the Novokuznetsk maternity hospital and the tragedy that occurred during the New Year holidays and compiled it into a separate story.