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Daily Record
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Grieving Scots mum calls for probe into scandal hit Glasgow hospital's baby unit
"I have to do this for my son because I have to get answers for him." A grieving mum who lost her baby son at a scandal-hit hospital has called for a wider probe into the troubled site. Carolanne Baxter wants the neonatal unit at Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children to be included in the ongoing Scottish Hospitals Inquiry looking into the problems at the facility and adjoining Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH). Since she first learned about the wider concerns about the QEUH campus, she has been plagued with doubt about the circumstances of her son William's deterioration and death. We revealed last week that more than £78million has been spent investigating and repairing the QEUH since it opened a decade ago, including £10million being spent to fix ventilation in a child cancer ward, £6million for tap filters and £880,000 for water and air testing. Now, the 42-year-old mum of three from Glasgow, who lost William in 2019, has now told for the first time of her heartbreaking experience. Carolanne said: 'I have to do this for my son because I have to get answers for him. The inquiry always looks at the child cancer wards but I was in the neonatal intensive care unit with William and things weren't right there either. 'We were told not to drink tap water, only bottled water. If there were no issues with the water supply, then why was that?' William was born premature at 28 weeks and five days old on January 29, 2019. He never left the hospital and died there on July 18 that year. Carolanne said he developed several infections while at the hospital and was given three types of medication, which she claimed she didn't know about. She fears the infections could have been linked to the environment. Carolanne said: 'He had cannulas [tubes for giving medication and fluid] all over him – in his arms, legs, even in his head. 'We know those are areas where infections could get in easily. He was born in good condition but two weeks later he got an infection and developed sepsis.' According to William's medical notes, he had been 'colonised with serratia', a type of bacteria previously investigated at the neonatal unit years earlier after a number of babies were found to have it. He was also found to have been infected with two other bacteria called staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae, resulting in sepsis. His medical records also state that his central line – another type of tube used for giving medicines – was infected and had 'blocked and burst' and had to be replaced. As he was born so prematurely, William had various complex health problems and was due to have heart surgery but this was cancelled. Carolanne said: 'They kept having to cancel the operations because he had infections. He would fight back from the infections but something would come again. He never got the surgery in the end.' Along with infections, William had several broken ribs and a broken arm, which Carolanne claims medics failed to explain or tell her about until days after they discovered the injuries. She said: 'It took them three days to tell me he had broken ribs and a broken arm. They said it was because he was premature and it could have been when he was being handled. 'I don't know why I wasn't told straight away.' Carolanne insists she had not realised there were concerns about infections in other parts of the site. She said: 'It wasn't until two years later and my mum said there had been problems with the QEUH and infections. I started reading into it and realised it was when I was there with William. It made me question everything and made me think about why certain things were happening. 'We were moved out of rooms, told not to drink the tap water. William had got infections when he was in the hospital and he never left there, so were any of them related to the environment? 'It was like a double whammy, it hit me all over again.' In 2022, Carolanne was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of what happened to William. She said: 'I had to give up work, I wasn't able to be a good mum to the rest of my children. It goes round and round in my head, what could I have done differently? What did I not notice?' Carolanne is a witness at the public inquiry looking into the QEUH campus problems but said there has been no focus on the neonatal unit and potential problems there. She said: 'That's why I wanted to give a statement, in the hope they would take it into account too because I know things were not right there.' An NHSGGC spokesman said: 'The NICU is part of the older, retained estate on the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus and has a separate water and ventilation system. It does not form part of the new-build hospitals covered by the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry's terms of reference. 'We have carried out, and continue to take, significant action to reduce environmental risks in our hospitals to help us to provide high quality care.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Antibiotic developed in India proves effective against complicated UTI: Top expert
1 2 3 Pune: An indigenously developed antibiotic has emerged as a "blessing" in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) among Indian patients, said Dr V Balaji, professor of clinical microbiology at Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore. Dr Balaji, also a key member of the Indian Network for Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (INSAR) Network, was speaking in Pune at the 13th annual international Best of Brussels symposium on intensive care and emergency medicine held on Saturday. More than 700 critical-care specialists are attending the three-day conference, which began on Friday. About the antibiotic — called cefepime-enmetazobactam — Dr Balaji said it has shown to be "highly effective", especially for treating complicated UTIs. Cefepime-enmetazobactam was fully developed in India, right from conception to trial phases. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Dr Balaji said: "Till now, no new drug was ever discovered in India, against cancer, hypertension, diabetes or even antibiotics. But for the first time, chemists in Chennai discovered a new antibiotic called cefepime-enmetazobactam. This is a big achievement because usually, when a drug is discovered abroad, it takes 5–6 years to reach India. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo And when it comes to India, it's 3–5 times more expensive." He added that since the drug discovery was in India, it was released here first at one-tenth of the cost. "It's highly effective and affordable, especially for treating complicated UTIs," he said. At the symposium, doctors also discussed irrational use of antibiotics. They said that in addition to misuse of antibiotics, use of unchecked generic medicines that were freely available in the market was triggering AMR in complicated UTIs. Dr Shirish Prayag, organising chairperson of the symposium and a leading intensivist from Pune, said: "Complicated UTIs are the most common bacterial infections in India. According to WHO, bacterial AMR is directly responsible for nearly 12 lakh deaths worldwide and indirectly responsible for 49 lakh deaths. E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are the most common causes of complicated UTIs. Patients with complicated UTIs, if left untreated, may require surgeries, renal replacement, utmost intensive care and even ventilation that prolongs hospitalisation. " Dr Kapil Zirpe, organizing secretary of the symposium, said: "When E. coli and other pathogens become resistant to anti-infectives like carbapenem, it is termed as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE). In India, mortality associated with CRE infections is as high as 20% to 54.3%, thus underscoring need for newer treatment options. Broad-spectrum antibiotics should not be used if a patient's vitals are fine. In such cases, a moderate-spectrum antibiotic is fine." Dr Subhal Dixit, joint organising secretary of the symposium, said antibiotics should be started only after proper collection of culture. "Antibiotics should always be used cautiously, only with a proper prescription and strictly based on a culture sensitivity–guided protocol."
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
5-year-old's death last year traced to rotten vangi bath, not cake
Bengaluru: What began as a celebration turned into tragedy — and for months, a slice of cake was wrongly blamed. A final investigation has now confirmed that the death of five-year-old Dheeraj B in Oct 2024 was caused by food poisoning from leftover Vangibath, a brinjal rice dish his family had stored in the fridge for two days, and not from the cake the family had initially suspected. Dheeraj, a resident of Bhuvaneshwarinagar in Kempapura Agrahara, fell seriously ill after consuming the rice, which had developed bacteria and fungus due to improper storage. His parents, Balaraj (40), a food delivery worker, and Nagalakshmi (30), a homemaker, were also sick after eating it, but recovered following treatment. According to police, in the initial panic, the family assumed the cake, which Balaraj brought home after an order he received for delivery was cancelled, was the source of contamination. However, a detailed investigation and medical analysis have now established that the rice was to blame. A final opinion from department of forensic medicine & toxicology at KIMS Hospital and Research Centre revealed high levels of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, types of bacteria, including a multi-drug-resistant strain, and Sphingomonas paucimobilis (bacterium), in the boy's blood and peritoneal fluid (a lubricating liquid in the abdominal cavity). A senior investigating officer confirmed the cake had been ruled out as a cause. "The reports were clear — there was no fault with the cake. The spoiled vangibath was the cause. It had been refrigerated for at least two days and had rotten. The parents couldn't tell it was stale and fed it to the child." A case of unnatural death had been registered at KP Agrahara police station after the incident. Police said the final report will be submitted to the court soon.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
IIIT-Delhi, French researchers develop AI tool to outsmart drug-resistant superbugs
New Delhi: In a boost to scientific advancement aimed at curbing the global threat of drug-resistant infections, researchers from the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology-Delhi ( IIIT-Delhi ) and France's Inria Saclay have developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-based system that can recommend effective combinations of existing antibiotics to fight superbugs . Superbugs are germs like bacteria and fungi that cause hard-to-treat infections. Most superbugs are bacteria that have developed antibiotic resistance - the ability to survive antibiotic medications. The project, jointly led by Professor Angshul Majumdar and Dr Emilie Chouzenoux, is part of a broader India-France research collaboration between Deep Light (Delhi) and CentraleSupelec, a French engineering school, said an official statement of IIIT-D. The team includes engineer Stuti Jain and graduate researchers Kriti Kumar and Sayantika Chatterjee, it added. "This is an excellent example of how AI and international collaboration can come together to solve real-world medical challenges and our method makes it possible to use existing knowledge more effectively and opens the door to smarter, faster responses to antimicrobial resistance (AMR)," Prof. Majumdar told PTI. AMR occurs when bacteria adapt to antibiotics, rendering them ineffective. Prof. Majumdar said the misuse of antibiotics, particularly in countries like India, is a major contributor to the crisis. "We often take antibiotics even for viral infections, which don't require them. Over time, bacteria evolve and adapt. As a result, even simple infections like urinary tract infections or wounds can become resistant to treatment," he added. The AI system that the team developed goes far beyond traditional rule-based models. It analyzes real-world clinical decisions from leading Indian hospitals and combines this with bacterial genome data and the chemical structure of antibiotics to recommend optimal treatment options. The system was successfully tested on multi-drug resistant strains like Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Prof. Majumdar shared a harrowing case from AIIMS, Kalyani, where a young patient's artificial hip joint became infected and was unresponsive to even last-resort antibiotics. "It was a simple muscle infection, but it became untreatable. The patient from a poor family was left bedridden and without options," he said. "This is the reality of AMR - it can devastate lives even when the infection seems ordinary." The professor said the AI model offers combination therapy suggestions, mirroring how doctors treat advanced cases today. "Instead of recommending one antibiotic, our system can propose a cocktail of drugs based on the genome sequence of the bacteria," said Majumdar. "Doctors can ask for five or ten possible options for a specific strain and the AI suggests viable treatments," he added. While the model is currently focused on bacterial infections, it can be retrained to tackle viral infections or even lifestyle diseases like hypertension, where drug resistance is emerging. "Our core motivation was to address infectious diseases - a problem that plagues countries in Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America far more than it does the West," said Majumdar. "There's less funding for this kind of work, but the impact is massive," he added. The team hopes that their model would eventually be embedded in hospital systems and public health frameworks, particularly in regions with limited access to advanced diagnostics. With AMR recognized as one of the most pressing global health threats of the 21st century, this AI-powered solution may offer doctors a timely, data-driven ally in the battle to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics.
Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Can hospital superbugs chew up stents and implants? Here's what a new study says
A dangerous hospital-acquired bacteria can digest and live on plastics present in sutures, stents, wound dressings and implants in your body. Researchers from UK's Brunel University also found that when the bacteria used plastics as its food source, it led to the formation of more biofilms — barriers that can protect the pathogen from attacks by the immune system and antibiotics. The finding means that bacteria, such as the one they studied, could degrade medical implants, lead to infections at the site of the implant and cause infections that are harder to treat. What did the researchers find? There are bacteria in the environment that have developed the capacity to break down different types of plastics. So researchers wanted to see whether bacteria that cause infections in humans could also lead to such degradation within the body. For the study, scientists looked for different pathogens with genes that could potentially produce enzymes similar to the ones that environmental bacteria use to degrade plastics. While they found several hits, they selected a Pseudomonas aeruginosa sample that came from a patient's wound. They isolated an enzyme — which they named Pap1— that could digest a type of bio-degradable plastic frequently used in medical devices called polycaprolactone (PCL) plastic. The researchers found that the enzyme degraded 78 per cent of the plastic sample in just seven days. Importantly, the researchers found that the bacteria were not only degrading the plastic, they were also using it as their carbon source — effectively eating it. 'This means we need to reconsider how pathogens exist in the hospital environment. Plastics, including plastic surfaces, could potentially be food for these bacteria. Pathogens with this ability could survive for longer in hospitals,' Dr Ronan McCarthy, author and professor of biomedical sciences at Brunel University, said in a release. Why is this concerning? This is concerning for several reasons: One, bacteria could live on in hospitals or within a patient even when there aren't any other nutrients present. Two, they could degrade medical devices that use plastics, leading to their failure. This could lead to a rethink of materials that should be used for medical devices. Three, researchers found that the plastic-digesting bacteria could cause more severe infections. The researchers further found that the bacteria were using the broken down plastic molecules to create biofilms (a matrix made of sugars, proteins, fats and DNA) that make pathogens more resistant and difficult to treat. Four, degrading medical devices would also mean that the pathogens would be able to create pits and niches within the human body, where it could be shielded from the immune system and antibiotics, again causing difficult-to-treat infections. Are there other pathogens that could have this ability? Researchers found that other pathogens like Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii, too, carried genes that could potentially create plastic-digesting enzymes. More studies are needed. Importantly, the researchers found that Pap1 enzyme was structurally similar to known enzymes that can degrade even more hardy plastics such as PET bottles.
