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Sunday, 22 January 2012

Parents To Get Results Of Deadly Bug Tests

Parents of 24 babies will find out later if their child has been infected by a deadly hospital bug.
Health officials confirmed that all babies in the unit in the Royal Maternity Hospital who may have been exposed to the bacteria pseudomonas have been tested.
Three infants have died from the outbreak.
Northern Ireland Health Minister Edwin Poots said that further testing had shown the number of confirmed cases was six, rather than the seven previously reported.
The large intensive care room, which holds up to 13 babies, has already been cleared and the infants moved into separate small rooms. A deep-clean took place over the weekend.
Two heavily pregnant women have been forced to make the 100-mile journey to Dublin to have their babies because of the outbreak.
Meanwhile, a different - and apparently unlinked - strain of the infection also claimed the life of another baby in Altnagelvin hospital in Londonderry last month, health officials said.
The infection was subsequently eradicated and they said there was no evidence to suggest it was linked to the strain that has hit the Royal's maternity unit.
Pseudomonas lives in water or moisture and patients can carry it on their skin. There are usually fewer than 80 cases of it annually in Northern Ireland. It affects the chest, blood and urinary tract.
The infection can be treated with the right antibiotic, but the third baby who died failed to respond to the treatment.
The neonatal unit is the only part of the hospital affected by the pseudomonas outbreak.
Delivery wards and all other services at the hospital are operating as normal, and expectant mothers have been advised they should attend their appointments as scheduled.
:: Any worried relatives can call the special helpline on 02890 635389.

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