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Regulator cites failures at Geisinger Medical Center where 3 preemies died

  • The Associated Press
The Geisinger Medical Center in Danville is seen in this August 2018 capture from Google Maps.

 Google Maps

The Geisinger Medical Center in Danville is seen in this August 2018 capture from Google Maps.

(Danville) — The Pennsylvania Health Department says that a major hospital where three premature infants died in a bacterial outbreak last year routinely failed to sanitize the equipment it used to prepare donor breast milk.

Health department staff ordered Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Montour County, to correct several deficiencies in the wake of an October inspection.

A report released Monday says a total of eight premature infants at Geisinger tested positive for bacteria between July 1 and Sept. 29. Three died.

Last November, infection control specialists used DNA testing to trace the Pseudomonas bacterium to equipment used to measure and administer donor breast milk.

The hospital said it immediately corrected the violations flagged by state inspectors. Since it changed the way it stores and prepares human milk, it noted there have been no new cases of infection.

During the investigation, Geisinger, which operates one of Pennsylvania’s largest health networks, sent very premature newborns and some expectant mothers to other facilities while it investigated the outbreak.

 

 

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