Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called for a full investigation after eight newborns died in neonatal intensive care units at two government-run hospitals in the states of Jalisco and Durango, cases that have raised questions about infections detected among some of the infants.
Sheinbaum described the deaths as "something serious" and said the investigations must be pursued "to the fullest extent," as health officials work to determine what happened at the two hospitals operated by the Mexican Social Security Institute, known by its Spanish acronym IMSS.
The president said IMSS Director Zoé Robledo was expected to provide her with a report on the deaths in both states.
"Zoé is going to give me the report today to see exactly what is happening in these places," Sheinbaum said during her Oct. 1 morning press conference. She added that authorities were providing support to the affected families.
The latest scrutiny centers on the Hospital de Gineco-Obstetricia at the Centro Médico Nacional de Occidente in Guadalajara, Jalisco, where three newborns who had been treated in the neonatal intensive care unit died.
The deaths occurred between July and August, but the cases came under renewed public attention this week after the children's families filed a collective complaint with Mexico's Attorney General's Office, or FGR, seeking an investigation into possible negligence and failures in hospital hygiene protocols.
Mexico's Health Ministry and IMSS said infections involving Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans had been identified in the neonatal unit and that the outbreaks had been reported to state and federal health authorities.
Klebsiella pneumoniae is a bacterium that can cause serious infections, particularly in vulnerable hospital patients. Candida albicans is a fungus that can also cause invasive infections.
A national team of specialists, including outside experts, is reviewing the Jalisco cases. The investigation includes clinical and epidemiological analyses of each case, laboratory studies aimed at determining the possible origin of the microorganisms and a review of infection prevention and control procedures.
Health officials said the hospital has also strengthened measures including cultures, cleaning and disinfection, separation of areas and supervision of hygiene practices.
The FGR is separately investigating the three deaths following complaints from the families. IMSS has said it is cooperating with federal prosecutors and has also opened an internal investigation.
The Jalisco investigation comes shortly after five newborns died at another IMSS facility, Hospital General de Zona No. 1 in Durango. Three of the babies died on Sept. 15, another on Sept. 18 and the fifth on Sept. 19. Tests detected Klebsiella pneumoniae in four of the five infants. The fifth tested negative for the bacterium.
However, Robledo has cautioned against concluding that the bacterium caused the deaths. Medical, legal and labor investigations remain open, and officials have said no definitive cause has been established. Samples were sent to Mexico City for additional testing, including genetic analysis of the bacteria identified in the Durango cases.
Robledo met with families of the Durango newborns on Sept. 25 and apologized personally to them. He also agreed that the parents would be informed of new findings before authorities make additional details public. The presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae in cases under investigation in both Durango and Jalisco has drawn particular attention. But authorities have not established that the two episodes share a common source, nor have they concluded that the microorganism was responsible for all eight deaths.
In Jalisco, the families have alleged that their children contracted infections while hospitalized and have raised questions about hygiene and medical procedures inside the neonatal unit. Those allegations are now among the issues federal investigators are examining.
Sheinbaum said Thursday that the government would continue supporting the families as the investigations proceed. "It is something serious, evidently," she said.
The investigations are now expected to focus on the origins of the infections, hospital infection-control practices and what role, if any, the microorganisms detected in the neonatal units played in each child's death.
