Tunisia: 15 babies died in a maternity hospital in Tunis - nosocomial infection suspected

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Tunisia: 11 babies died in two days in a maternity hospital in Tunis

Posted on: Monday March 11th 2019 - 17:08
Last Updated: Monday 11 March 2019 - 17:13

The health minister resigned in Tunisia after the death of 11 babies in two days in a maternity hospital in Tunis. These deaths occurred between Thursday 7 and Friday 8 are not yet explained with certainty.

It's the shock in Tunis. Between Thursday and last Friday, 11 newborns hospitalized in the same maternity ward died in somewhat unclear circumstances.

The announcement was made by the Ministry of Health on Saturday 9, before the minister, Abderraouf Cherif, himself resigns in the face of the outcry.

According to the ministry, the deaths are "probably" due to a "septic shock" caused by a blood infection. An investigation is underway and the first observations "are moving towards a severe nosocomial infection".

It is also likely that the young contracted this infection during their hospitalization via including "parenteral food", that is to say administered by a gastric tube as Franceinfo points out.

The controversy is strong in Tunisia and the Tunisian pediatric society denounced "the precarious conditions in which health professionals exercise and the urgency to take decisions to save the public hospital".

The decline in the quality of care had also been the subject of an alert from the president of the Tunisian society of pediatrics who a few months ago had pointed out the situation of maternity Rabta, where died the 11 newborns.

Prime Minister Youssef Chahed has assured that "those responsible for any failure (are) pursued".

http://www.francesoir.fr/societe-sante/tunisie-11-bebes-morts-en-deux-jours-dans-une-maternite-de-tunis

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Tunisia: 12 babies die in a public maternity ward, an infection implicated

11/03/2019 at 15:47

According to early evidence, infants died of nosocomial infection.

Of the 20 newborns hospitalized in the maternity hospital complex of La Rabta, Tunis, 11 premature of seven and eight months died Thursday and Friday and a twelfth died Sunday, according to a new assessment given on Monday by the Tunisian Minister Acting Health.

After the indignation provoked by these deaths, which were considered revealing of a dilapidated public health system, the Minister of Health Abderraouf Sharif resigned Saturday from his position and was replaced by Sonia Ben Sheikh.

This Monday, it announced that an infection contracted at the hospital was at the origin of the death of 12 babies in this public maternity of the Tunisian capital.

A nosocomial infection

Preliminary evidence indicates that neonates died of nosocomial infection (care-related and contracted during hospitalization, Ed.).

"The whole health sector is in a state of emergency. (...) The professionals have launched twenty thousand times cries of alarm," she said. "That's enough," said Sonia Ben Sheikh, adding that everyone must "be put before his responsibilities."

The interim minister called in particular "for reforms to restore confidence" between the citizen and professionals of the public health sector.
...

Liv Audigane with AFP

https://www.bfmtv.com/international/tunisie-12-bebes-meurent-dans-une-maternite-publique-une-infection-mise-en-cause-1649950.html

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IE13 / 03/2019 At 13:22

Drama of Rabta: The death toll mounts

The spokesman of the Tunis Court of First Instance, Sofiane Selliti, confirmed that the number of infants who died at the Rabta Hospital has increased. There are now 15 cases of death.

Selliti added that 15 judicial instructions have been initiated on this subject, ensuring that the results of the investigations on this subject will soon be revealed.

https://www.jawharafm.net/fr/article/drame-de-la-rabta-le-bilan-s-alourdit/90/68058

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Rabta Hospital: The toll rises to 15 deaths among newborns

By Maher Chaabane - March 13, 2019 - 20:24

The result of the tragedy of the Rabta Hospital is increasing. According to the spokesman of the Tunis Court of First Instance, Sofiene Selliti, the death toll of infants has fallen to 15.

On March 10th, the death of the 11 newborns was announced, then this toll increased to 12 deaths, due to nosocomial infection.

According to the interim Minister of Health, the glucose formula used to feed the newborns is the cause of death.
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http://www.webdo.tn/2019/03/13/hopital-de-la-rabta-le-bilan-salourdit-a-15-deces-parmi-les-nouveau-nes/