It’s a sad story. In less than 2 months – between the end of July 2016 and the end of August 2016, four premature babies (born at around 25 weeks of pregnancy) died in the neonatal intensive care unit of the Andrée Rosemon Hospital Center in Cayenne, Guyana. In question: a nosocomial infection, caused by staphylococcus aureus. The information was revealed this Thursday, September 8, 2016 in a press release from the Regional Health Agency (ARS).
A nosocomial infection, kezako? It is an infection contracted in hospital, which can be related to the care provided or simply occur during hospitalization, independently of any medical procedure. We speak of “endogenous” nosocomial infection when the patient becomes infected with his own germs, and of “exogenous” nosocomial infection when the germs come from other patients, nursing staff or the environment (air, water, equipment, food, etc.).
“A very common germ, especially in tropical environments”
According to experts, the three bacteria most frequently responsible for nosocomial infections are Escherichia coli (24.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (the famous staphylococcus aureus, 18.99%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10%).
According to Jacques Cartiaux, the director of the Regional Health Agency (who spoke to AFP), staphylococcus aureus is “a very common germ, especially in tropical environments. Statistics show that the Staphylococcus aureus is worn by one in five adults, at least in tropical environments. »
“For adults, it’s not bad, it’s easily combated by simple hygiene measures. In a premature baby, this can cause very serious lung problems. On September 7, the ARS ordered an inspection of the service concerned in order to determine the exact causes of these deaths and identify the measures to be implemented to prevent this type of infection. Neglect is always possible, but Staphylococcus aureus is really everywhere,” he added.
To read: Nosocomial infection, how is it caught?
