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"How could it happen
again?"
14.10.08
Inishowen mum tells of
baby superbug horror
AN Inishowen mum whose baby contracted MRSA in
Letterkenny Hospital yesterday described her horror
at learning that other infants had picked up the
infection.
The woman, who requested anonymity to protect her
four-month old baby son, said she couldn't believe
it when she heard that three other babies delivered
in Letterkenny had tested positive for the infection
in recent weeks.
"They knew four months ago that my baby had MRSA so
why were strict measures not put in place to prevent
it happening again?" she asked.
The mother-of-four said she presumed once her own
baby's case was confirmed at 12 days' old, the
hospital would have instigated all the necessary
measures to prevent another case. "My husband and I
are angry that our baby got it but we're also angry
that more babies picked it up afterwards. This
should not have happened." She knew something was
wrong when her son was just three days old. |
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"I noticed an offensive
smell coming from his tummy button and it didn't
look like it was healing," she said. She took him
back to the hospital where the wound was swabbed and
tested. The following day, her GP confirmed the MRSA
infection which soon spread to her baby's eye, nose, |
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throat and groin. His
mother happily confirmed yesterday that while her
baby was still carrying the infection, he was "doing
very well". She is highly relieved that the
infection did not spread to her son's bloodstream -
where it can be fatal.
However, she continues to be "hypersensitive" about
cleanliness in her home and continues to wash her
youngest child's clothes and feeding utensils
separately. She is also extra-careful if any of her
other three children, aged from 1½ to 9 years, get
cuts or grazes. Her four-month old, whom she
describes as a "very good wee baby, placid and
sociable", continues to be tested. He's due to be
swabbed again in the coming weeks.
Despite an eight-week wait for guidelines from the
hospital's Infection Control team initially, she now
has a hotline number to contact them whenever she
needs.
She is grateful for the support she has received
from Rosemary Cassidy from the Donegal branch of
MRSA and Families Network.
"The hospital is saying that these recent cases are
not connected to my baby's case, but how do they
know that for sure?" asked the Inishowen mother, who
has been in touch with one of the other mothers
involved.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Mary Harney has confirmed
that a healthcare worker at Letterkenny Hospital is
believed to be responsible for the spread of MRSA
among newborns at the facility. The worker is
currently on leave of absence. Ms Harney said any
mother who had concerns could now bring their baby
forward for screening. |
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