Super Bug Infects Babies At Sacramento Hospital

SACRAMENTO, CA. (CNN) – An infection outbreak at a hospital in Sacramento has exposed dozens of newborns to MRSA. That’s a strain of the staph bacteria so tough to treat that it’s sometimes called a “super bug.”  And as Nick Janes reports, the mother of one of those infected babies is demanding to know how it happened.

He already faced a battle. Born at 31 weeks, a tiny 3-pounds, 12-ounces. Just days later, to his mom’s shock, Sutter Memorial diagnosed him with MRSA.

“For them not to be able to tell my baby how my baby got MRSA, you know, is not ok. They should have answers. They’re the hospital. They’re the one taking care of him.”

Doctors at Sacramento’s so-called “baby hospital” say two infants in the neo-natal ICU are infected. Twenty more have been colonized with MRSA. In other words, the highly contagious bacteria is on their skin, but hasn’t turned into an infection. The outbreak dates back two weeks.

“We’re trying to stop the spread of this right now.”

Sutter Memorial shifted several babies to Sutter Roseville. They’re also cleaning beds and handrails multiple times a day, instead of just once. Families are urged to bring fewer people to visit the NICU to reduce the risk of spread.

“We have not, as I remember, had this large a number of babies colonized.”
“how can you explain that? What is it about this time that makes it different?”
“It’s hard to tell. Don’t know.”

He says it could be as simple as someone didn’t wash their hands. The two confirmed cases are said to be minor, non-life-threatening infections. Still, parents have been warned their babies could be contagious, even after they leave the hospital.

“They said that he can’t go to the park. I shouldn’t take him to the park.”

That mother, who didn’t want to be reveal her identity, said she is considering legal action against the hospital.

Meanwhile, Sutter Memorial officials say they have control over the outbreak, and they’ll continue to monitor it closely.