Sando neonatal shut down

The neonatal unit at the SFGH was shut down after five babies contracted a bacterial infection, all of which occurred at the same time.

Parkinson said according to microbiological protocols, they had to take emergency measures to shut down the unit and then investigate. After the investigation it was found that the infection was not caused by one bug, but by different strains. However, he said there was not an outbreak.

“They will open up the unit again once these babies are cleared of infection. We had a similar problem in PoSGH as well not too long ago, and we had the cooperation of SFGH and Mt Hope (Women’s Hospital), now the shoe is on the other foot and we are helping them,” Parkinson said. He said the shut down meant that they did not want to take any new babies who may be at risk of getting the infection.

“So, all at-risk mothers are sent to Mt Hope Women’s Hospital and when they deliver their babies they can come straight to our neonatal unit (at PoSGH), or babies who are born there or who require ICU, they stabilise them first and then they transport them to us. The object is to try and cut down admissions to those units to reduce the spread of infection,” Parkinson explained.