Germ in the University of Münster Baby ill

Again dangerous Serratien germs found on pediatric intensive care

06/15/2013

Yet another case of dangerous hospital germs: At Münster University Hospital, a premature baby is currently in a critical state of health, after which it is referred to as so - called „Serratien germs“ (Serratia marcescens).

Germs are normally dangerous only to immunocompromised patients
The Children's Intensive Care Unit of the University of Münster is currently fighting an infestation of Serratia germs, which, according to the clinic, are normally not risky for healthy people, but can be a major hazard for sick, immunocompromised patients. According to the clinic at the present time, a premature baby is infected with the germ and now suffer from a blood poisoning, which was treated immediately with antibiotics, said the chairman of the board and medical director of the hospital, Norbert Roeder, on Friday to WDR.de. The condition of the child is according to Roeder "currently critical" - however, the infection can be treated well, since it is not a multidrug-resistant germ.

A total of ten children infected
According to the clinic, in addition to the infected preemie, another nine small patients - premature babies, newborns and a toddler - are now infected by the intestinal germs, although no further infections have occurred in these children.

Clinic immediately tightened the security measures
According to the clinic, the bacterial infection was detected in the standard hygiene examinations, whereupon the safety measures were immediately tightened - on the one hand, special cleanings were carried out on the ward and the infested children had been taken to other rooms. As this measure „A high staff effort would bring, with the exception of emergencies, no further patients on the ward“, so Roeder to WDR.online on, also planned operations would be postponed.

According to the clinic spokesman, there are none „crisis situation“
The measures taken are, according to the clinic spokesman, but not with a „crisis situation“ to justify, instead it was primarily about it, „prevent transmission of the germ and other infections“, so Roeder. Roeder receives support here from the municipal health department - according to WDR.de, Norbert Schulze Kalthoff, the head of the office, has admitted to the clinic „exemplary behavior“ certifies, moreover, confirmed Schulze Kalthoff that „no further danger to children recognizable“ be.

Demand for exact investigation of the incident
Nevertheless, the „German Society for Hospital Hygiene“ Now from the clinic a thorough investigation of the incidents, because "Serratia are not transmitted by air, but always through contacts with people or contaminated areas," said the spokesman for the company, Klaus-Dieter Zastrow, opposite WDR.de. Consequently, a spread of the germ is in principle avoidable - and the clinic now has the duty to seek the origin and clarify the transmission path. Because the illness of the premature baby should be taken seriously, so the hygiene physician Zastrow according to WDR.de, there „40 to 50 percent of patients suffering from blood poisoning die.“

Again and again cases of germs in hospitals
Münster is not an isolated case, instead, germs have often led to critical situations in clinics, several infants have even died of it. For example, "at the end of December last year, five premature babies were infected with the Serratia virus at the Asklepios Children's Hospital Sankt Augustin. Fortunately, the disease was not life-threatening" but could be well treated with antibiotics in all children. (No)