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Death of Babies at Montreal Hospital Sign of Health-Care Problems: Critics

Posted on: Friday, 27 April 2007, 18:00 CDT

By JONATHAN MONTPETIT

MONTREAL (CP) - The death of four premature babies at a hospital several years ago is being blamed on bacteria in old plumbing pipes, raising questions about the spread of germs in Quebec's aging health-care infrastructure.

Ste-Justine Hospital confirmed on Friday that four premature babies died in 2004 and 2005 from a common bacterium found in tap water in its neo-natal ward.

Pseudomonas is a bacterium that's everywhere in the environment, but premature babies are especially vulnerable because they have weak immune systems, said Dr. Isabelle Amyot, the hospital's director of medical services.

"The difference is that a premature baby is extremely fragile to germs that don't affect us," she said, adding it's virtually impossible to eliminate it from the water system.

She said pseudomonas multiplied in stagnant water in the pipes and around sink drains.

"I want to be very clear that Ste-Justine is very safe," she said. "We have taken all of the measures needed."

The hospital was reacting to excerpts from a television report to be broadcast Friday night. Ste-Justine's said the situation is now under control and there have been no deaths in the last two years.

Amyot said some 50 premature babies were sickened by it.

She said premature babies at the hospital no longer come into contact with tap water and sterile water is used.

The hospital is also replacing its aging plumbing system and building a new neo-natal ward to open next year.

But the hospital's reassurances provided little comfort to at least one parent.

Chantal Cloutier told all-news network LCN she intends to file a lawsuit after being told by the hospital that her son's death was an isolated incident.

"I don't want to say all they do is not right, except in the case of my baby it was a catastrophe," said Cloutier. "There are surely people who did good things. There are others who probably should have done certain things."

Several other parents have reportedly complained that they were left in the dark about the reasons behind the death of their children although Amyot said all parents involved have been notified.

Many have criticized Quebec's aging health-care network as it has been hit hard in recent years by outbreaks of severe diarrhea caused by the bacterium C. difficile. It has been linked to insufficient disinfection procedures at provincial hospitals.

Dr. Benoit Cousineau, of McGill University's Department of Microbiology and Immunology, says there is little chance of a pseudomonas outbreak similar to the virulent strains of C. difficile that have caused an estimated 2,000 deaths in Quebec since 2003.

But Cousineau stressed the incident at Ste-Justine's is symptomatic of widespread concerns about the spread of germs and hygiene in Quebec hospitals.

"It's not necessarily this bacteria, it's just that the environment in hospitals should be a lot cleaner," Cousineau said.

"If there's a place that should be clean it's hospitals, and it's completely the opposite."

Quebec's opposition parties were quick to pounce on the issue, accusing Health Minister Philippe Couillard of hiding information from the public.

"We perceive that in the health system there is still a culture of deception that the minister has put in place," said Action democratique du Quebec's health critic, Eric Caire.

"The minister must act, react and stop this practice," Caire said.

Couillard said he was aware of the situation at Ste-Justine's in March 2005, but didn't feel it necessary to inform the public.

"Up to a certain point these events are unavoidable," Couillard said at a news conference in Quebec City. "What is needed is that the health-care system shows... that all measures are being taken to keep the risk at a minimal level."

Couillard added that Quebec's health-care system is getting better at dealing with such bacterial outbreaks.

Source: Canadian Press

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