Free State health officials have closed the operating theatres at the Katleho hospital in Virginia after three patients were infected with klebsiella.
Provincial health department spokesperson Elke de Witt said on Friday three outpatients had suffered post-operation wound sepsis at clinics in Virginia and at the Katleho District hospital.
”The source of infection was traced back to the operating theatre at the Katleho District hospital where wounds were contaminated with the klebsiella species bacteria,” said De Witt.
”Two outpatients were admitted to the hospital and discharged after treatment and one outpatient was admitted to Bongani Regional hospital, where she is doing well.”
Klebsiella is a bacteria commonly found in the intestines and can cause a number of infections such as pneumonia, urinary track infections and wound sepsis, which is the most common.
If the bacteria gets into the blood stream it can cause septic shock which can be fatal.
De Witt said to prevent any further infections at the Katleho hospital all emergency surgery scheduled there had been transferred to the Bongani Regional hospital.
”Minor elective surgery was postponed,” she said.
”It must be stressed that there is no indication that the infection is prevalent in any other area of the Katleho District hospital in Virginia.
”This is supported by the absence of any report of wound sepsis from maternity, from the wards as well as from the absence of clinical symptoms from staff and patients.”
De Witt said the department was working with the microbiology department at the Free State University’s faculty of health sciences to determine the extent of the problem and improve infection control in public hospitals.
Twenty-two babies recently died in a Phoenix hospital outside Durban after becoming infected with klebsiella. – Sapa