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There are fears that more babies may have been poisoned as a result of contaminated feeds in neonatal units across the UK.

One baby has already died and others are being treated with antibiotics, after drips providing premature babies with liquid food were found to be contaminated with the bacillus (bacillus cereus) bacteria. Bacilli are commonly found naturally in soil and water.

A nine-day-old baby boy has died from the infection and 14 other babies were reported as being infected on Wednesday (04/06/14).

It is now thought a further three babies may be infected, bringing the total number of babies currently being treated to 17. The babies are all suffering from blood poisoning as a result of the infection.

The baby who died at St Thomas’ Hospital in London on June 1st has been named as Yousef Al-Kharboush, whose family live in the London Bridge area of southeast London. According to the coroner, he was being treated in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit and died from septicaemia (sepsis).

Babies have also been taken ill at hospitals in Peterborough and Essex – and the Public Health Authority has warned that other babies who received the contaminated batches of liquid feed administered intravenously last weekend may also develop the infection.

The manufacturer of the liquid feed, ITH Pharma, has said the infection can most likely be traced to a sourced, single raw-material ingredient in the feed. Public Health England has said that the contaminated feed came from expired stock and not current supplies.

Commenting on the news that babies were becoming infected as a result of contaminated feed, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said:

“Today’s story about the tragic blood poisoning of 18 children shows we can never take safety for granted. It also shows the importance of prompt and early identification of problems.
“The truth is that we have come a long way in patient safety, but we have a lot further to go.”

The chief executive of ITH Pharma, Karen Hamling said:

“As a mother, as a pharmacist – as someone who has worked for 30 years in healthcare, inside and outside the NHS – I am deeply saddened.”

The three most recent reported cases of infection have occurred at Peterborough City Hospital, with two “probable” cases at Basildon University Hospital in Essex and Southend University Hospital, also in Essex.

The Daily Mail reports that the 14 other cases of infection involve two babies at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation; four babies at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust in London; one baby the Whittington Hospital in north London; three babies at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust; two babies at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge; and two babies at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital.

On Thursday, the coroner opened an investigation into the death of nine-day-old Yousef Al-Kharboush, after deciding the baby had died “an unnatural death”.

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Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise on how to make no win no fee claims for injuries relating to medical negligence, including negligent treatment, prescription errors, wrong treatment and poor medical care.

Personal injury claimants usually have three years in which to make a claim, and children can claim compensation up to the age of 21.

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