Three infants died and five others were sickened after contracting Pseudomonas infections at Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger Medical Center, reports PennLive.
Geisinger announced the infections Oct. 7, which all occurred in premature infants seeking treatment at its neonatal intensive care unit.
The three deaths "may have been a result of the infection complicating their already vulnerable state due to extreme prematurity," Edward Hartle, MD, executive vice president and CMO at Geisinger, said in a statement emailed to Becker's.
Four infants have recovered from the infection. The fifth is still on antibiotics.
Geisinger is transferring premature infants and women expected to give birth before 32 weeks to other hospitals as a precaution.
"We continue to work closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the CDC to investigate and ensure that proactive measures already taken have eradicated the bacteria, as well as prevent any additional cases," Dr. Hartle said.
The hospital has also set up two hotlines to answer community members' questions.
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