17 Suffer Eye Infections After Cataract Surgery in India. Bacteria and Contaminants Found in Hospital’s Operation Theatre
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Nov 06, 2024 6 days, 10 hours, 22 minutes ago
Hospital News: A shocking series of infections following cataract surgeries has emerged in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh-India, where 17 patients developed severe eye infections shortly after their procedures. Investigations revealed significant contamination within the operation theatres (OTs), with the presence of bacteria and even fungus on the surgical tables and equipment. This alarming revelation has prompted the state health department to suspend two officials involved, amid accusations of gross negligence.
17 Suffer Eye Infections After Cataract Surgery in India. Bacteria and
Contaminants Found in Hospital’s Operation Theatre
The affected patients, who underwent surgery between October 18 and October 22, were found to have developed infections in their eyes, leading them to be transferred over 350 kilometers to BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital in Raipur for further treatment. The initial findings in this
Hospital News report, show that the contamination likely stemmed from poor hygiene practices and the failure to sanitize the operation theatres adequately.
The Investigation Unveils Contaminants in the OT
The probe initiated by the district administration discovered that the operation theatre where the cataract procedures were performed was in a deplorable condition. It was reported that the OT was repurposed from other medical uses and was not properly sanitized before the eye surgeries were conducted. Furthermore, swabs collected from the operating tables, medical equipment, furniture, and even electrical appliances in the OT confirmed bacterial and fungal contamination, raising serious concerns over hospital protocols and the standard of cleanliness.
According to sources familiar with the case, the OTs had been closed for months and only recently reopened for these cataract surgeries. Yet, the hospital management failed to ensure adequate sanitization before resuming operations. The primary investigator, Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Ajay Ramteke, shared that the presence of contaminants was evident in initial culture reports, although more comprehensive reports are still pending.
Suspensions and Accountability
Following the revelations, the state health department has suspended a junior scientist, Abhishek Mandal, and a microbiologist, Umakant Tiwari. The Dantewada district hospital officials stated that these two individuals were held responsible for failing to maintain sterility and allowing unsafe conditions in the OT. In addition to the suspensions of Mandal and Tiwari, a surgeon, Dr. Getta Netam, and two other medical staff members were also suspended after they were found to be negligent in ensuring proper procedures during the cataract surgeries.
The district collector, Mayank Chaturvedi, remarked that of the 80 individuals who recently underwent eye surgeries in the hospital, 17 were confirmed to have developed infections. He expressed concern that the infections were likely due to severe lapses in hygiene protocols and staff negligence.&
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Treatment and Recovery Efforts for Affected Patients
The infected patients were promptly moved to BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital in Raipur, where they are undergoing intensive treatment to prevent further complications. Hospital spokesperson Shubhra Thakur reported that the patients are in stable condition, and two are close to being discharged. Medical staff at Ambedkar Hospital are hopeful that with immediate intervention and additional surgeries, they can prevent permanent damage to the patients' eyesight.
For several of these patients, the experience has been traumatic, as they expected a straightforward cataract surgery and instead found themselves facing a lengthy recovery process due to infections. Some patients have required secondary surgeries to treat the infections and restore vision, making the incident a deeply distressing experience for both patients and their families.
Health Ministry’s Response and Next Steps
Chhattisgarh Health Minister Shyam Bihar Jaiswal recently visited the affected patients at the hospital in Raipur, expressing his dismay over the mishap and vowing to take stern action against those responsible. He emphasized that maintaining strict hygiene and protocol adherence in medical facilities is critical to ensuring patient safety and preventing such unfortunate events. Jaiswal also assured the public that a thorough review of operating standards across government hospitals in the state would be undertaken to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Officials are now calling for a more rigorous protocol to address safety in all operation theatres, especially when transitioning rooms between different types of procedures. This incident serves as a tragic reminder of the potential consequences of neglected hygiene and the vital role of hospital oversight in safeguarding patient health.
Conclusion
The case of the 17 patients who developed eye infections following cataract surgeries at a government hospital in Dantewada has brought critical issues in hospital hygiene practices to the forefront. The evidence of bacterial and fungal contaminants in the operation theatre indicates that lapses in cleanliness and procedural standards are at the root of these infections. As officials work to hold those responsible accountable and review hospital practices, this incident underscores the urgent need for stringent hygiene protocols and regular audits of hospital environments.
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