Deaths in Mexico Linked to IV Feeding Bags

According to a Dec. 11 ABC News article, on Dec. 10, authorities in Mexico reported that a total of 17 children have died in central Mexico from suspected contamination of IV feeding bags after four more deaths were confirmed.

Thea article said, “David Kershenobich, the country’s public health secretary, said 16 of the victims were underweight, premature babies being treated at hospitals; the other victim was 14 years old.

“He said that two bacteria, including a multidrug-resistant bug, were suspected in the deaths.

“Investigators say the bacterial contamination apparently happened at a plant in the city of Toluca that manufactured the IV nutrition mixture, and that the company had been temporarily shut down and use of the product had been halted.”

Infections were first reported on Nov. 22 and the latest being Dec. 3. Approximately 20 other patients became ill from the infection, according to the article.

“The outbreak appeared to involve Klebsiella oxytoca, a multidrug-resistant bacteria, and enterobacter cloacae, which caused blood infections in the babies,” ABC News reported.

Further, the article stated that Kershenobich commented that further deaths were not expected, but said authorities had “detected other possible outbreaks with similar characteristics in Mexico State, which are under investigation.”

“Three more deaths were found to have occurred in the neighboring state of Michoacan and one in the north-central state of Guanajuato,” the article added. “Authorities said the same bacteria, and the same IV bags, were implicated in all the deaths.”

Previously, the federal Public Health Department ordered clinicians across Mexico not to use IV nutrition bags made by the company Productos Hospitalarios S.A de C.V., although the source of infection is still being investigated.

The outbreak appeared to involve Klebsiella oxytoca, a multidrug-resistant bacteria, and enterobacter cloacae, which caused blood infections in the babies.