Mexican authorities on Thursday revealed that thirteen children under the age of 14 have died in central part of the country on the suspicion of contaminated IV feeding bag.
The federal Health Department ordered doctors across the country not to use IV nutrition bags made by the company Productos Hospitalarios S.A de C.V., though the exact source of the infections is still under investigation. Phone calls to numbers listed for the company and emails seeking comment went unanswered.
The outbreak appeared to be Klebsiella oxytoca, a multidrug-resistant bacteria. It was first detected in November at three government hospitals and one private one in the State of Mexico, on the outskirts of Mexico City.
The department said the children appeared to have died from a blood infection.
So far, of 20 possible cases, the bacteria was ruled out in one case, suspected in four and confirmed in 15 cases. Of the 19 patients, 13 died and the six others are being treated at hospitals.
Asked about the cluster of cases, President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday that health officials “told me about a case yesterday, but let’s say, it’s under control.”
It was the latest public blow to Mexico’s tottering, underfunded health care system. Last week, the director of the country’s flagship national cardiology institute said the hospital didn’t have money to buy essential supplies, calling the situation “critical.”
Dr. Jorge Gaspar, the hospital’s director, wrote an internal letter saying that budget cuts “have affected the acquisition of supplies necessary for the institution’s functioning.” In a subsequent public letter the next day, he clarified that the initial message was intended for an “internal” audience and assured the public that “we are working to solve the situation.”