France discovered strange bacteria causing death in babies

The French Pasteur Institute on January 7 said a new type of bacterium was found to be responsible for three deaths, in vesicles of nutrient infusion (IV) given to a hospital in Chambery province, Southeastern France, used for babies.

Artwork: laboratorytalk.com

Results of analysis of some unused IV bags in the hospital's special neonatal care area show that all of these bags contain strange bacteria.

Jean-Claude Manuguerra of the Pasteur Institute said that this is an enterobacteria that has not been known to science yet.

French Health Minister Marisol Touraine also confirmed that six of the above IV bags are in the presence of "a similar single bacterium of environmental origin".

Tests were conducted on 10 infusion bags. A total of 137 nutritional bags produced by French firm Marette on November 28, 2013 were distributed to 7 hospitals that were recovered after the incident.

The parents of three newborn babies who died in early December filed a lawsuit against Chambery provincial hospital for manslaughter.