At least 13 children have died in Mexican hospitals due to suspected IV bag contamination, health officials said on Thursday, December 5th.
The exact source of the infections is still under investigation.
The children, all under the age of 14, died across three public facilities and one private clinic in Mexico from a blood infection linked to a possible outbreak of Klebsiella oxytoca, a multidrug-resistant bacteria, which was reportedly first detected in November.
Of 20 possible cases, the bacteria was ruled out in one case, suspected in four, and confirmed in 15 cases. Of the 19 patients, 13 died and the six others are being treated at hospitals, the Associated Press reported.
The Ministry of Health issued an epidemiological alert through the National Epidemiological Surveillance System (SINAVE) on December 3, 2024, in which it reported on the “Outbreak of Bloodstream Infection by Klebsiella oxytoca related to possible contamination of Parenteral Nutrition (NPT) or supplies related to its application.”
Dr. Rosa María Wong Chew, Head of the Clinical Research Subdivision of the Research Division of the UNAM School of Medicine, mentioned that the manifestations associated with this microorganism range from urinary tract infections to pneumonia, especially in people who have previous disorders or lung diseases such as COPD or bronchopulmonary dysplasia in children, skin and soft tissue infections, such as cellulitis, to sepsis, that is, the presence of the bacteria in the bloodstream that causes a generalized infection.
According to Dr. Wong Chew, on November 28, cases were reported to the General Directorate of Epidemiology (DGE) in 3 maternal and child hospitals in the State of Mexico. By November 29, there were already 19 cases in 4 units (3 public and 1 private), of which 15 have been confirmed, 4 probable and one ruled out.
“Most of these have occurred in children from 0 to 14 years old, mainly in newborns with parenteral nutrition and signs of sepsis. In addition, the identification of the bacteria in preparations acquired from pharmaceutical companies has been described.
Dr. Wong Chew offered some recommendations aimed at preventing Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), based on WHO recommendations, to avoid or reduce bacteremias related to vascular catheters, with hand hygiene before and after any procedures related to intravascular devices, reducing unnecessary use of catheters, surveillance and monitoring, staff education, treatment and management, and risk communication and teamwork.
