Authorities in Mexico have confirmed the deaths of 17 children in central Mexico due to suspected contamination of IV feeding bags. The victims, including 16 underweight, premature babies and one 14-year-old, were being treated at hospitals in the State of Mexico, on the outskirts of Mexico City.
The contamination is believed to have occurred at a plant in Toluca that produced the IV nutrition mixture. Two bacteria, including a multidrug-resistant bug, are suspected in the deaths. The company responsible for manufacturing the IV bags has been temporarily shut down, and the product's use has been halted.
The first infections were reported in late November, with the last case identified in early December. Around 20 other patients have also been affected by the bacterial contamination and are receiving treatment.
Authorities have issued a nationwide directive to avoid using IV nutrition bags from the implicated company. The outbreak involved Klebsiella oxytoca and enterobacter cloacae bacteria, causing blood infections in the affected children.
This incident adds to a series of healthcare challenges in Mexico, including past cases of contaminated medical supplies. In 2023, an anesthesiologist was arrested for causing a meningitis outbreak that resulted in multiple fatalities. In 2020, a state-owned hospital distributed a contaminated drug to dialysis patients, leading to deaths and illnesses.
The country's healthcare system has faced funding issues and supply shortages, with recent reports of hospitals struggling to acquire essential resources. Former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador aimed to improve healthcare access but encountered difficulties in implementing reforms.
Authorities are investigating additional potential outbreaks with similar characteristics in Mexico State, Michoacan, and Guanajuato. The situation underscores the importance of stringent quality control measures in medical manufacturing and distribution to prevent such tragedies from reoccurring.
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