The Democratic Alliance has expressed concern over an outbreak of antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella infections in babies at the Thelle Mogoerane hospital in Vosloorus, East of Johannesburg.
The DA’s shadow Health MEC in Gauteng, Jack Bloom is claiming that at least two babies have died as a result of the infection, while five other babies are currently receiving treatment in isolation.
Bloom says the Health Department must investigate and fix the underlying problems at the hospital.
He says the infection is usually caused by poor hygiene and overcrowding.
“There is massive overcrowding at the baby wards at this hospital. At the moment they have got 60 beds and there are 82 babies in that ward. I think they must make sure that there is proper infection control. They must find the cause of this outbreak which they haven’t yet been able to find.
“They must make sure that no babies die from klepsiella or any other avoidable infection in a hospital,” adds Bloom.
