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Greater Manchester baby unit temporarily shuts

14/02/2008

Hospital bosses in Greater Manchester have decided to temporarily close a baby unit after a baby died and another developed a similar infection.

A premature baby died at the neonatal unit at Salford Royal hospital at the end of last year after developing an infection with aspergillus.

Last week a second premature baby tested positive for skin aspergillus.

Investigations are now underway at the hospital and the unit is closed while these are ongoing.

Senior consultant neonatologist Dr Michael Robinson said: "Preterm babies are more susceptible to developing infections because of their immaturity and we continue to do all that we can to reduce these.

"When a second infection occurred within two months of the first, we took further advice and are embarking upon a range of investigations and precautionary measures to ascertain whether there are any common contributory factors.

"As a temporary measure, we have closed the unit to admissions of preterm babies and are currently monitoring the situation closely."