Bahamas: Drug resistant bacteria kills; and sickens babies

Acinetobacter Bamannii. PHOTO/Wikipedia

The Bahamas Public Hospitals Authority has reported that two babies have died and another six are being treated following a bacteria outbreak at a neonatal intensive care unit.

Bahamas health officials have revealed in a statement that the acinetobacter bamannii outbreak occurred at Princess Margaret Hospital.

Bahamas Health Minister Dr. Perry Gomez said Friday that he did not think the outbreak was properly handled because the hospital delayed in notifying authorities. The first case was detected about a month ago.

A similar outbreak at the same hospital in August 1996 killed three infants and infected five others.

The acinetobacter bamannii bacteria enters the body through open wounds, breathing tubes and catheters and is highly resistant to antibiotics.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press