Infant dies after bacterial infection outbreak at Pinderfields Hospital unit in Wakefield

A baby has died after a bacterial infection broke out in a neonatal unit at a hospital in Wakefield.
The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Pinderfields, said it was providing support to the parents of the baby.The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Pinderfields, said it was providing support to the parents of the baby.
The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Pinderfields, said it was providing support to the parents of the baby.

The infant was one of four babies to have contracted a condition known as Serratia Marcescens, at Pinderfields Hospital at the end of August.

The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Pinderfields, confirmed the outbreak at a public board meeting on Thursday.

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In a statement issued later, the trust said it was offering support to the family of the baby and had put in place measures to control the infection as soon as it was identified.

The other three infants who contracted the illness are said to be doing well.

David Melia, the trust's director of nursing, said: "I can confirm that at the end of August four babies in our neonatal unit at Pinderfields contracted an infection called Serratia Marcescens.

"The infection can present in a number of ways, one of which can be conjunctivitis.

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“As soon as it was identified we put measures in place to control any spread, caring for the four babies together in one room of the unit, so as not to put any other babies at risk.

“We also put further infection prevention and control measures in place, such as regular deep cleans of the unit and, as the infection can be easily spread via hands and on surfaces, we put measures in place to control who had access to communal stocks of items such as nappies, formula and bottles.

"This was in addition to ensuring rigorous compliance of hand hygiene protocols from all staff and parents on the unit."

Mr Melia said that one of the babies became unwell because of the infection, which can be more serious for those who have weakened immune systems.

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The hospital's neonatal unit cares for babies who are born prematurely or are sick.

Mr Melia added: "We are sorry to say that this baby sadly died and we are supporting the parents through this difficult time.

"We have also been providing additional support to the parents of the other babies who understandably had increased anxieties following this sad news.

"I can confirm that we have had no further cases of this infection on the unit and that all three of the babies are doing well.”

Local Democracy Reporting Service