KEY POINTS:
A baby who died after being caught in a staphylococcus aureus infection in Auckland Hospital's neonatal unit was premature and died of multiple causes, doctors say.
Stringent infection controls are in place at Auckland City Hospital after six babies were found to be infected with a potentially fatal bacteria in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Six babies developed a sticky eye as a result of the bacteria. Another three developed a more serious infection when the bug entered their bloodstream.
Two of those babies have since made a full recovery but the unit's clinical director, Dr Malcolm Battin, said the third baby died in early April.
The baby was very premature and very sick and died of multiple causes and it was impossible to say how big a part the infection played, he told NZPA.
The vast majority of the babies in the unit had no signs of the infection, he said.
Dr Battin said all the babies' parents had been contacted about the infection and told of the situation.
"From time to time there will be different bugs around in the nursery."
Staff took many precautions to minimise the risk of infection but there was still a small risk.
Since April there had been strong management by staff to ensure protocol and procedures were followed to minimise the risk of infection and parents should continue to have confidence in the unit, he said.
Dr Battin said he felt the unit had a good relationship with the parents of the babies in the unit and specifically with the parents of the baby who died.
A weekly screening programme was in place to help minimise the risk and staff had taken other precautions as well, he said.
Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium commonly found on human skin, was first reported at the 41-bed unit in April when it was full.
The bacterium was one of the top three fatal infections for premature babies.
Symptoms could include only pimples or mild rashes, but could lead to fatal conditions such as pneumonia, meningitis, toxic shock syndrome and septicaemia.
- NZPA
