The number of newborns that have died at Trakya University Hospital since last Friday climbed to eight early yesterday morning, but as of yet none of the families involved in the tragedy have filed a complaint with the public prosecutor. An investigation into the incident is ongoing, officials said.
In addition to the eight deaths, one other infant at Edirne`s Trakya Medical Faculty Neonatal Unit is in critical condition. An investigation to determine the reason for the newborns` deaths revealed a bacterial infection.
Meanwhile, Ahmet Aksu, chairman of Turkish Union of Health Employees (Saglik-Sen), released a statement calling the incident a "scandal" and urged all hospitals to immediately take the necessary precautions in neonatal units.
Noting that deaths from infections are growing more common in Turkey, he said that Turkish authorities are ignoring the importance of hygiene in hospitals. The estimated number of deaths caused by infection is around 3 percent in developed countries while the number in Turkey is 10 percent, he added.
The cause of deaths is not bacteria but irresponsible officials, he charged.
`Bacteria is the culprit`
Dr. Armagan Altun, the chief of medicine at Trakya University`s (TU) Medical Faculty Hospital, yesterday said that they determined the bacteria “serratia” to have caused the infections, and have antibiotics on hand to prevent further deaths.
Speaking at a press conference at the hospital, he said, "We haven`t encountered this bacterium before in our neonatal unit," and commented that it may have been carried inside by either medicine, serum or people. The baby that died yesterday morning had been in the hospital for one-and-a-half months for a metabolic complication, he added.
In addition to this, a press release came from Dr. Adnan Tekin, chief of medicine at Konya`s Dr. Faruk Sukan Birth and Children`s Hospital, saying that there are at least 20 types of bacteria which can harm babies. A visitor or personnel carrying the bacteria who enters a neonatal unit could cause all the newborns to die, Tekin said in the statement.