Fed: New strain of deadly bacteria threatening babies

AAP General News (Australia)
04-23-2004
Fed: New strain of deadly bacteria threatening babies

By Kylie Walker, National Medical Correspondent

SYDNEY, April 23 AAP - The deadly bacteria affecting premature babies in three Melbourne
hospitals is a new strain of the common serratia bacterium, Royal Children's Hospital
microbiologists have found.

Two premature babies infected by the bacterium have died and another 28 infants have
been isolated after being found to be carrying it.

Dr Andrew Daley, a microbiologist with the Royal Children's Hospital's infection control
unit, said the new strain of serratia marcescens appeared to be spreading much faster
than usual.

"We do see serratia causing infection sporadically ... but what's unusual about this
particular outbreak is we've seen a lot more transmission or colonisation of babies in
the intensive care unit," Dr Daley said.

"We are still doing a lot more testing ... but what's apparent is that this serratia
seems to be spreading more easily between the babies than the normal sporadic strains.

"That's why we're calling it a new strain."

Luckily, the strain had not become resistant to antibiotics, he added.

Serratia marcescens lives in soil, water and the human gut, and thrives in warm, moist
environments.

It generally causes no infection in healthy people but can cause disease in premature
babies, the elderly, the very sick and those with poor immune systems.

The two most severe infections caused by serratia are septicaemia, infection of the
blood, and meningitis, infection of the lining around the brain.

Others include urinary tract infections, pneumonia and wound infections.

"With these very premature little babies, all the things we have to do to manage them
in hospital like putting in lines, ventilating them, puts them at increased risk of infections,"

Dr Daley said.

The babies who have been isolated carry the bacteria but have not been infected by it.

"We're watching them very closely for any signs of developing infection," Dr Daley said.

Nineteen babies have been isolated at the Monash Medical Centre, six at the Royal Children's
Hospital and another three at the Royal Women's Hospital.

AAP kbw/pw/bwl

KEYWORD: BABIES BACTERIA

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