'Contaminated Intravenous Injection' Causes Death of 17 Children... Mexico in Turmoil

Seventeen children in Mexico who were administered contaminated intravenous fluids suddenly died, causing a major upheaval in the health authorities.

Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico, is holding a regular morning press conference at the National Palace of Mexico on the 10th (local time). Photo by Yonhap News

According to Yonhap News, David Kershenovich, Mexico's Minister of Health, stated at the president's regular press conference on the 10th (local time) that "from the end of last month until recently, seventeen deaths suspected to be caused by contamination of intravenous fluids occurred in three states."

According to local health authorities, all the deceased were minors. Sixteen were premature or low birth weight infants receiving treatment in hospitals, and the remaining one was a fourteen-year-old child. It was confirmed that all had been administered intravenous fluids produced by the medical supplies manufacturer Productos Hospitalarios.

Minister Kershenovich revealed that "two types of bacteria were detected in the intravenous fluids." They were Klebsiella oxytoca and Enterobacter cloacae, and the authorities are investigating the possibility of contamination in the intravenous fluids and the correlation with the cause of death.

Mexican authorities have confirmed at least three additional outbreak cases and issued an epidemiological alert. They have also ordered all medical facilities nationwide to ban the use of the problematic intravenous fluids.

In Mexico, deaths due to contamination of medical supplies occur frequently. Last year, thirty-five women who underwent gynecological surgery at four hospitals in Durango in the north lost their lives to bacterial meningitis caused by contaminated anesthetics. In 2020, fourteen patients died after being treated with drugs contaminated with miscellaneous bacteria.

President Claudia Sheinbaum instructed measures including halting production of the medical supplies, administrative sanctions on the company, comprehensive on-site inspections of related facilities, and criminal prosecution, stating that "impunity will not be tolerated."