Ten premature babies contract dangerous superbug at new children's hospital
Ten premature babies have contracted a dangerous superbug while being treated at Monash Children's Hospital.
While doctors insist there is no immediate risk, alarmed parents have raised concerns about hospital hygiene.
Fragile and tiny, Grace Andrewartha is one of the babies that has tested positive to the superbug VRE, or Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus.
Routine testing found the bacteria in Grace's gut, and while she has shown no sign of illness, her parents are furious.
"If it gets into the bloodstream we've got problems, with any organ in the body it can have serious problems and complications," Grace's father Phillip Jackson said.
"Watching cleaners clean bins, clean work equipments, sinks and worktops where you prepare formula for your baby with the same cloth."
The bacteria is easily washed from hands and surfaces with soap and water.
"It's a bug that was absolutely totally preventable and through complacency this is how it spreads," Grace's mother Jessica Andrewartha said.
The hospital has confirmed that none of the 10 babies have shown any signs of illness due to the bacteria.
The eight infants still at the hospital have been isolated as staff work to contain the outbreak.
"At this point we are doing everything that we can to make sure that this is contained and we are working with the Department of Health to make sure screening is in place," Monash Health chief medical officer Professor Irwin Loh said.
Little Grace is due to be discharged at the end of the week, with her parents praying that she remains healthy.
