KEY POINTS:
One of the 21 babies infected by potentially lethal bacteria at Auckland City Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit died in April, it emerged yesterday.
But the hospital could not say whether the staphylococcus aureus bacteria, immune to common antibiotic gentamicin, had any role. The bacteria is one of the top three fatal infections for premature babies, and can cause symptoms ranging from small, innocuous white pimples to lethal conditions including pneumonia, meningitis, toxic shock syndrome and septicaemia.
The dead baby was born premature and was already critically ill when it became infected with the bacteria. It was one of three babies who suffered serious infections when the bacteria entered their bloodstream. The other two have since made a full recovery.
Those three babies showed "general signs of unwellness" rather than any clear physical symptoms of the bacteria, the unit's clinical director Dr Malcolm Battin said.
The other 12 babies had the bacteria on their skin, but were not infected and showed no symptoms.
Despite the potentially devastating outbreak, just six babies were still carrying the bacteria yesterday. They were isolated, and showing no symptoms, said Dr Sally Roberts, clinical adviser for infection control.
The hospital had worked with parents, visitors and staff to manage the spread of the bacteria since the infection was first detected.
Dr Battin said it was most likely the infection had entered the NICU from the community, on one of the staff or visitors.
Because the bacteria is so common - some 20 per cent of all people are likely to carry staph. aureus - it was impossible to ensure it never made it into the NICU, he said.
"While everything is done to manage the risk of infection in the unit, this is a relatively common bacteria that is impossible to eradicate."
The NICU has introduced alco-wipes at its doors, instead of just being available next to the babies' patients cots. Environmental cleaning had also been "continually reviewed".
