Children's Hospital in Hamburg detected germs in infants

Germs in newborns in Hamburg Children's Hospital

After several pathogens were found in several pediatric patients in a children's hospital in Hamburg, the clinic explained that these were not multiresistant hospital germs. There is no health impairment in the infants.

No multidrug-resistant hospital germs

After several newspapers reported that several infants were infected with pathogens in the children's hospital in Hamburg's district of Altona, the clinic stated in a statement: "On a recent occasion, we would like to find out that the affected newborns are in intensive care Altona Children's Hospital in the PNZ Altona to colonize Klebsiella pneumoniae and E.coli as common and non-resistant hospital germs. "

The germs Klebsiella pneumoniae and E.coli were found in newborn infants in a children's hospital in Hamburg. According to the clinic, there is no health impairment in the infants.
(Image: jarun011 / fotolia.com)

Dangerous infections in newborns

"There is no infection in the colonized newborn and therefore no health impairment," the statement goes on.

The case brings back memories, because there are always dangerous infections, even on neonatal wards.

For example, two years ago, a dangerous intestinal germ had been discovered on the preemie intensive care unit of a clinic in Dusseldorf.

And even in the neonatal intensive care unit at Freiburg University Hospital, babies were infected with dangerous intestinal germs in the same year.

Usually not dangerous

According to experts, the "Klebsiella pneumomiae" discovered in Hamburg occur, among other things, in the human intestine and are normally harmless.

In exceptional cases, such as in people with weakened immune systems, but they can be dangerous.

And the also noted Escherichia coli bacteria (E. coli) (also called "coli bacteria") can - if they are consumed about contaminated food - among other diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting cause.

Hygiene measures met

According to health experts, pathogens in hospitals are often due to a lack of hygiene, but the Hamburg hospital writes:

"At the intensive care unit of the Altona Children's Hospital in the PNZ Altona not only all hygiene measures according to the recommendation of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) are fulfilled, but we set much higher standards."

And further: "In addition to repeated screening for multidrug-resistant and non-multidrug-resistant germs, this also includes extensive training of all personnel and patient parents, the permanent presence of a consulting hygiene specialist on site, barrier care and environmental investigations."

Although a report on the occurrence of these non-multiresistent germs to the health department is not required, the clinic informed the hygiene institute and the health department at an early stage.

"Our wide-ranging hygiene standards are a high priority for us because patient safety is paramount." (Ad)