Superbug found at Children’s Hospital with eight babies infected

Eight babies have been detected with a potentially-fatal superbug.

The bacteria has been detected at the newly-opened Monash Children’s Hospital.

The presence of vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE), a bowel bacteria often resistant to antibiotics, was discovered at the end of last week through routine testing, Fairfax reports.

Eight babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Special Care Nursery in the Melbourne hospital have been detected with the illness but the bacteria has not spread from their bowels to other parts of the body, meaning they are not infected and have no symptoms.

The hospital has confirmed eight babies in the unit were carrying the superbug and those babies had immediately been isolated and parents were notified.

Additional cleaning resources had been introduced in an effort to prevent the bacteria spreading.

Symptoms of infection include fever, rapid pulse rate, redness and swelling.

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13 Comments

- - mom101628 said
  - 31 Dec 2017
    9:53 pm
Scary that this happened in a new hospital.

- - june11 said
  - 04 Dec 2017
    10:49 pm
It is scary to think that the bug could have been taken in by a visitor.
There was a bug went through the Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit in Adelaide several years ago. Visitors other than the parents were allowed into the unit.
Babies in the special units have an even weaker than normal immune system than those in the normal nurseries. I know for a fact that one baby who would have gone home within a few days when he gained a little more weight passed away as a result of coming into contact with the virus. He passed away within a few hours of showing the first symptoms.

- - ella12 said
  - 28 Nov 2017
    2:37 pm
This is very worrying indeed, I wish them well.

- - tessie said
  - 26 Nov 2017
    9:13 am
Scary to think this has developed in a new hospital. I hope all of the babies will be okay.

- - rachel1970 said
  - 24 Nov 2017
    8:52 pm
Very scary, hope this is sorted out soon.

- - mom206279 said
  - 23 Nov 2017
    6:29 pm
Hope the babies will be ok! Very scary.

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 23 Nov 2017
    11:08 am
Wow I hope they will be okay!

- - Ellen said
  - 23 Nov 2017
    3:57 am
Scary ! Hope and pray these wee ones all recover well and soon !

- - nealsq said
  - 22 Nov 2017
    5:17 pm
oh no how scary, I hope it gets sorted fast!

- - rovermum said
  - 22 Nov 2017
    5:09 pm
OMG, this is so terrible. Those poor little babies – and the stress their families must be under. Good to know the superbug has been found and detected and here’s hoping all these babies can be treated in the right way and live long and healthy lives.

- - mom112217 said
  - 22 Nov 2017
    4:54 pm
Hoping the babies will be alright,a horrible situtation for every-one involved.

- - mom93821 said
  - 22 Nov 2017
    3:12 pm
The poor little babies – superbugs are quite an unknown and scary medical issue.

- - mom90758 said
  - 22 Nov 2017
    1:52 pm
Terrible. There is surely a need to develop new antibiotics as soon as possible.