The Department of Health spokesperson Steve Mabona says there was no Klebsiella pneumonia outbreak in 2014 but a prevalence which is an incidental occurrence below the baseline fatalities.
This follows after the Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu acknowledged that 13 babies died last year at the third largest hospital in the world, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital from Klebsiella infection and that overcrowding was a contributing factor.
“An outbreak is when the case fatalities are above the baseline.”
The issue of overcrowding in the neonatal ward at Bara has been highlighted for many years, including a shocking photo that was published with three new-born babies in a box.
In the 2006/7 financial year, a total of 22 746 babies were born at Bara.
On average, one mother and six babies died every week.
More than a quarter of the babies were born by Caesarean – an average of 17 operations a day.
Every day about 100 mothers were admitted to give birth, but there were only 16 beds for admissions.
This means each bed was used by about six different patients a day.
“The unit at Bara looks after the very low birth weight babies.
“By virtue of their poorly developed immune system these babies are prone to infections.
“To do deal with overcrowding in the neonatal unit, personnel was increased and the unit will be expanded,” said Mabona.
