HSE working to manage Pseudomonas outbreak at Limerick maternity hospital
A comprehensive programme of work is now underway at University Maternity Hospital Limerick - including neonatal screenings
The multidisciplinary team at University Maternity Hospital Limerick are continuing to monitor an outbreak of Pseudomonas in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit closely, the HSE Mid West have confirmed.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an environmental bacterium that is typically associated with water and moist environments. While its occurrence is very common, in rare cases it can cause serious infection in vulnerable patients, including neonates.
A range of enhanced protective measures have been implemented to manage this outbreak and the multidisciplinary team includes specialist colleagues in neonatology, microbiology, obstetrics, public health, neonatal nursing and infection prevention and control.
A comprehensive programme of work is now underway at University Maternity Hospital Limerick - including neonatal screening, environmental sampling and specialist microbiological testing.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the HSE Mid West said, “Antibiotic treatments are available to babies with pseudomonas infection. The safety and wellbeing of babies in our care is our highest priority. All affected infants have been and continue to be closely monitored by specialist clinical teams and appropriate care is in place. Affected infants who have been discharged from hospital have been doing well with no reported clinical concerns identified. There have been no adverse outcomes to date.”
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit remains open to admissions and staff are engaging directly with all families whose babies are currently in the unit.
The multidisciplinary team continues to monitor the situation closely and will take any further actions necessary to ensure the continued safety of patients.