Telangana: Skinbug trigger in botched tubectomy? Probe still on

HYDERABAD: All 34 tubectomy surgeries at the DPL (double puncture laparoscopy) camp held at Ibrahimpatnam last week were wrapped up in less than two hours, according to a preliminary report. The camp was closed within 3-4 hours, after sending the women home. Four women, who underwent tubectomy at the camp, succumbed to sepsis, while the rest were hospitalised.
The four victims and 28 others were infected with the same bug, clearly pointing out that there was little or no effort in sterilizing equipment. Sources have also pointed out at the possibility of the infection spreading through cotton swabs. The fact that the camp was wrapped up in less than two hours means that the women were operated within minutes of each other.
"The camp was held in a little over 70 minutes. For equipment like long scissors, which has to be used in laparoscopic surgery, cleaning requires running them through some gases. It's clear that the sterilization process was avoided or done shabbily as the time required for following proper measures would be over 10 hours for 34 women," the source from the health department said.
Forensic experts have pointed out in the preliminary report that the four women were also infected with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)."The common skin bug - MRSA - enters the blood stream and causes septic shock leading to multiple organ failure like in the case of the four women. However, all the remaining women are currently stable," the source added.
Meanwhile, the common bug which has been found in the women is a common hospital acquired infection -stays on the skin - and can enter the body through medical equipment or direct contact with skin. "However, the fact that almost all women were affected means it was either in the hospital environment or spread from the first or second patient due to poor sterilization. Usually, a laparoscopic surgery takes 7-15 minutes. In women who have had the last child 6-8 years back, it takes time to locate the uterus," an expert said.