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Baby's E. coli hospital death despite 'strict hygiene' | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A baby who died from E. coli was being treated on the same hospital ward as the mother of twins who had picked up the bug abroad, an inquest has heard. | |
Hope Erin Evans was one of two babies who died at the neo-natal unit at Swansea's Singleton Hospital after getting the bug in November 2011. | Hope Erin Evans was one of two babies who died at the neo-natal unit at Swansea's Singleton Hospital after getting the bug in November 2011. |
The inquest heard her mother complained after finding a discarded tissue in her daughter's incubator. | The inquest heard her mother complained after finding a discarded tissue in her daughter's incubator. |
But a senior doctor said hygiene policies were strictly adhered to. | But a senior doctor said hygiene policies were strictly adhered to. |
Five-day-old Hope was one of three premature babies who tested positive for ESBL E. coli. | |
All three were delivered by Caesarean section at Singleton Hospital after their mothers were transferred from Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil. | |
After giving birth, the twins' mother showed signs of the infection and one twin later died after developing the bug and other serious medical complications. | |
Hope, who was being cared for in an incubator next to one of the babies, died on 4 November. | |
Tests carried out by Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board confirmed she contracted E. coli at the hospital while the mother and her twins caught it elsewhere. | |
The inquest heard Hope's mother had complained after a discarded tissue was found in her baby's incubator. | |
She also claimed a nurse did not replace her gloves when moving between a medicine cabinet and Hope's feeding tubes. | |
Resistant to antibiotics | Resistant to antibiotics |
ESBL E. coli is different to the E. coli O157 which causes food poisoning and is most often found in the gastrointestinal tract. | ESBL E. coli is different to the E. coli O157 which causes food poisoning and is most often found in the gastrointestinal tract. |
It is resistant to commonly-used antibiotics such as penicillin, but can be treated. | It is resistant to commonly-used antibiotics such as penicillin, but can be treated. |
In most people ESBL E. coli does not cause harm but in vulnerable individuals it can cause serious infections. | In most people ESBL E. coli does not cause harm but in vulnerable individuals it can cause serious infections. |
Hospital consultant Dr Suresh Gowda admitted the unit, which has since been refurbished, was cramped and needed updating. | |
But he and several nurses who gave evidence said hygiene rules were strictly followed. | |
Neonatal consultant Dr Jean Matthes said she could not definitively say where in the hospital Hope picked up the infection. | |
"We know that the unit was cramped. Although staffing ratios were met, the unit was extremely busy because we had a lot of sick babies," she said. | |
"It was a very stressful and difficult time for all staff at the time." | |
An investigation by Health Inspectorate Wales found the outbreak was most likely caused by a failure to prevent infections. | |
The health board was given 13 recommendations for improvements. | |
The inquest continues. | The inquest continues. |
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