A pharmacy assistant’s dirty hands were the main reason why six babies died earlier this month in the Pelonomi hospital in Bloemfontein.
Dr Victor Litlhakanyane, head of the Free State health department, told a news conference on Thursday that the assistant who prepared foodstuffs for the babies had washed his hands in a dirty basin.
”A tradesman washed his hands and a broken water pipe in the pharmacy’s basin earlier that morning. The assistant did not go to the trouble of washing … the basin before mixing the babies’ food,” he said.
”The water was not run from the basin and the basin was not disinfected. The assistant merely washed his hands in the dirty, infected water,” said Litlhakanyane.
”He therefore did not take the necessary steps to prevent the babies’ death.”
The results of forensic post-mortem tests showed the babies died from septicaemia caused by Enterobacter bacteria. This caused the babies’ organs to bleed, which led to their death.
The department would take steps against several top hospital staff members before the end of the month.
This would include the hospital’s chief executive, the head of the pharmacy, the senior pharmacist, the clinical head, the nursing head and the head of the hospital’s technical services.
The department would not release their names because the investigation had to be completed first. They would not be suspended unless they were found guilty.
The investigation would be completed by the end of April, Litlhakanyane said.
Family members of the babies said they would not pursue legal action against the hospital or the department.
”I hope that similar incidents won’t occur in Free State hospitals again,” Litlhakanyane said. — Sapa