Fatalities from tainted baby IV nutrition bags in Mexico increase to 17

December 13, 2024

Updated: December 13, 2024

MEXICO CITY — On Tuesday, ⁤Mexican authorities reported that the death toll from ⁢suspected IV feeding bag⁤ contamination in ‌central Mexico has risen‍ to 17 children, following the ⁤confirmation of four additional fatalities.

David Kershenobich, the ⁣Secretary of Public Health in Mexico, revealed ‌that 16 of‍ the deceased were underweight, premature infants receiving treatment in ⁢hospitals. The remaining victim was ⁤a 14-year-old child.

Kershenobich indicated that the deaths are suspected to be linked to two types of bacteria, one of which is known to be⁢ resistant to ‍multiple drugs.

According ⁢to investigators, the bacterial contamination likely originated from a Toluca-based plant that produced the ⁤IV nutrition mixture. ⁢The plant has since been temporarily closed, and the use of its product has been suspended.

The first cases of infection were reported on Nov. 22, with⁤ the most recent case identified on Dec. 3. Approximately 20 other patients have fallen ill due to the infection and are currently ⁣receiving treatment.

The⁤ initial ⁤13 fatalities occurred in four hospitals, three of ⁢which are government-run and one private, located in the State of Mexico, on the fringes of Mexico City.

While Kershenobich does not anticipate further fatalities, ⁢he acknowledged that authorities are‌ investigating other potential outbreaks with⁣ similar characteristics in Mexico‍ State.

Three additional deaths were reported in the ⁣neighboring state of Michoacan, and one in the north-central state of Guanajuato. The same bacteria⁣ and ⁤IV bags were implicated in all these cases.

Earlier, the federal Public Health Department issued a nationwide directive‍ to ‌doctors, instructing them not to use IV nutrition bags produced by the company Productos Hospitalarios S.A de C.V. The exact source of⁤ the⁤ infections, however, remains ‍under investigation. Attempts to reach the company for comment have so far been unsuccessful.

The bacteria involved⁢ in the outbreak are believed to be Klebsiella oxytoca, a multidrug-resistant strain, and enterobacter cloacae, which caused blood infections in the infants.

This incident is the latest in a series of setbacks⁤ for Mexico’s struggling and underfunded ‌health care system. Last month, the director of the country’s premier national cardiology institute publicly ‍stated that the hospital lacked funds to⁢ purchase essential supplies, describing the ‌situation as “critical.”

Dr. Jorge Gaspar, the director of the hospital, wrote an internal letter stating that budget cuts “have affected the acquisition ‌of supplies necessary for the institution’s functioning.” He ‍later issued a public letter, assuring the public that efforts⁢ were underway to‍ resolve the situation.

Contaminated medical supply scandals have been a recurring issue in Mexico for several years.

Former President Andrés ‍Manuel López Obrador, who left office on Sept. 30, often criticized ⁢drug supply companies for overpricing. He overhauled the entire medical purchasing ‍system, promising to deliver health care to Mexicans that would be “better than in‍ Denmark.”

However, the new system of government-run warehouses has been beset with chronic shortages of supplies and drugs. A massive government‍ supply ⁣depot set up by López ⁤Obrador, dubbed the “mega drug store,” now‍ stands ‌largely vacant.