By: Staff Writer
April 23, 2024
Trinidad and Tobago health services are grappling with a bacterial infection that has swept through the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Port of Spain General Hospital (PoSGH) and the Couva hospital, killing 12 babies for the year.
Terrence Deyalsingh, Minister of Health, is the Member of Parliament for St. Joseph, told reporters that the infant deaths at the Couva hospital have been “politicized” as irate parents expect answers.
It was reported that at least seven of the children died at the PoSGH from late-onset neonatal sepsis, a condition known for its rapid onset and potentially devastating consequences, said the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA).
All the victims were children who were prematurely born at less than 32 weeks old and required intensive care support, the Trinidad health authorities said.
Laboratory investigations revealed there were at least three types of bacteria of concern in the ward, Serratia marcescens, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Klebsiella aerogenes, said the NWRHA.
The Trinidad government has asked the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to assist it in the investigation into the deaths of the infants, Deyalsingh told the island’s Parliament in early April.
THE Trinidad and Tobago Medical Association (TTMA) has offered condolences to the families of the babies who recently died at the NICU of the PoSGH and all those who have been affected by the loss.
“Like the rest of the nation, we are disheartened by the news of the deaths of several neonates at the PoSGH,” a media release on April 21 from the association said.
“We recognise the negative impact and emotional distress on the parents and other loved ones, as well as on all of the health care workers involved in the care of these children.”
The statement added that the care of neonates, especially those who are premature, is a complex task with many factors to consider, which include the risk of feeding problems, an increase in infections, and respiratory distress (breathing problems), among others.
“Our paediatric and nursing colleagues have shouldered this Herculean task for years with diligence, skill and empathy, understanding the delicate balance of the multiple complications associated with early deliveries,” the statement added.