Hospital cleared in two infant deaths
MIAMI (AP) – A county health department investigation traced a common bacteria that infected three infants to the water supply at Miami Children’s Hospital, but cleared the hospital’s health practices.
Two died. All were born prematurely and treated in the hospital’s neonatal ICU.
Miami-Dade health officials said Wednesday the babies each contracted the bacteria pseudomonas. They said the hospital lacked policies for routine plumbing inspections, didn’t flush the system and didn’t participate in the county’s free chlorine purge program aimed at preventing such infections.
However, county investigators “found no evidence” connecting patient care practices with the infections.
The hospital says the report confirms their infection control practices meet “established standards.”