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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Baby ward hit by fatal infection | Baby ward hit by fatal infection |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A hospital has temporarily closed its neo-natal unit to premature babies after a baby died and another suffered a potentially fatal infection. | |
| A pre-term baby developed an infection from aspergillus, a common airborne fungus, and died in December at Salford Royal Hospital, Greater Manchester. | |
| A second pre-term baby tested positive for skin aspergillus last week. | A second pre-term baby tested positive for skin aspergillus last week. |
| The hospital said it had closed the ward as a precaution to establish any "common contributory factors". | The hospital said it had closed the ward as a precaution to establish any "common contributory factors". |
| It means the unit is closed to new admissions, although the babies already in the specialist unit will remain there. | It means the unit is closed to new admissions, although the babies already in the specialist unit will remain there. |
| ASPERGILLUS A common airborne fungusFirst identified in the 18th CenturyGets into the body through a cut or woundTreated with antifungal drugs Q&A: Aspergillus | ASPERGILLUS A common airborne fungusFirst identified in the 18th CenturyGets into the body through a cut or woundTreated with antifungal drugs Q&A: Aspergillus |
| The aspergillus fungus is very common and can be found in homes and buildings everywhere, but can cause infections. | The aspergillus fungus is very common and can be found in homes and buildings everywhere, but can cause infections. |
| It is particularly dangerous to those with weakened immune systems. | It is particularly dangerous to those with weakened immune systems. |
| Dr Michael Robinson, senior consultant neonatologist, said: "Pre-term babies are more susceptible to developing infections because of their immaturity and we continue to do all that we can to reduce these. | Dr Michael Robinson, senior consultant neonatologist, said: "Pre-term babies are more susceptible to developing infections because of their immaturity and we continue to do all that we can to reduce these. |
| "When a second infection occurred within two months of the first, we took further advice and are embarking upon a range of investigations and precautionary measures to ascertain whether there are any common contributory factors. | "When a second infection occurred within two months of the first, we took further advice and are embarking upon a range of investigations and precautionary measures to ascertain whether there are any common contributory factors. |
| "As a temporary measure, we have closed the unit to admissions of pre-term babies and are currently monitoring the situation closely." | "As a temporary measure, we have closed the unit to admissions of pre-term babies and are currently monitoring the situation closely." |
| 2011 closure | 2011 closure |
| A hospital spokeswoman said that clinicians in the unit had offered their support to the family of the second infant infected. | A hospital spokeswoman said that clinicians in the unit had offered their support to the family of the second infant infected. |
| Salford Royal's maternity unit remains open as normal. | Salford Royal's maternity unit remains open as normal. |
| Acute and specialist services at the hospital - formerly known as Hope Hospital - have been rated as "excellent" by the Health Commission for the past two years. | Acute and specialist services at the hospital - formerly known as Hope Hospital - have been rated as "excellent" by the Health Commission for the past two years. |
| In January, Salford Royal was named as one of the best performing trusts across England for maternity services. | In January, Salford Royal was named as one of the best performing trusts across England for maternity services. |
| The neo-natal unit is set to close by 2011 as part of a controversial reorganisation of NHS maternity facilities in Greater Manchester and Cheshire. | The neo-natal unit is set to close by 2011 as part of a controversial reorganisation of NHS maternity facilities in Greater Manchester and Cheshire. |