Intravenous Infections

[Anchor Lead]

Police and health authorities say they are investigating whether the four newborns who died at a Seoul hospital this month contracted bacterial infections from intravenous therapy. They are investigating whether the medical tools used in the treatment were contaminated.

[Pkg]

All four of the newborns who died recently in an intensive care unit received intravenous nutritional therapy prior to their deaths. Three of them were found to have Citrobacter freundii, an anaerobic Gram-negative coliform bacteria that can cause infection.

[Soundbite] Lee Han-young(National Forensic Service (Dec. 18)) : "We will inspect the medicines and syringes that we have seized at the hospital."

An investigative team comprising six outside experts is also zeroing in on the possibility of intravenous therapy being the source of the deadly infection. Sources say that the team submitted its opinion that all of the deceased babies had received parenteral nutrition therapy, which included Vitamin K. Upon receiving the team's opinion, a police team specializing in medical errors seized and are investigating the electronic medical records from the hospital where the newborns died. The team is also trying to find out whether IV medications were contaminated by the medical personnel during their preparation and storage and whether the medical equipment was infected as well.

[Soundbite] Park Chang-hwan(Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency) : "We have finished the first round of inspections of the medical equipment in cooperation with the National Forensic Service, and sealed it."

It will take about a month to receive the results of biopsies conducted on the babies' organs in order to find the exact cause of their deaths. Police plan to finish other investigations before the results are ready. The bereaved families of the deceased newborns blasted the Ewha Womans' University Mokdong Hospital for acting negligently and trying to sidestep regarding its role in the matter. On Wednesday they refused to attend a meeting with the hospital staff because the latter failed to provide proper information on the babies' treatments.