The Health Affairs in Jeddah has stopped all admissions for at least one week at Al-Massadiya Maternity and Children's Hospital as a “normal” precautionary measure to eradicate a drug-resistant bacterium in the intensive care unit for newborns, said Dr. Sami Badawood, Director of Health Affairs in Jeddah. The suspension can be extended, he added. Specialists have been brought in to tackle the situation, it was reported in a section of the Arabic press on Wednesday. Babies who need incubators have been referred to other private and government hospitals in the region, at the expense of the government. Dr. Kamal Abu Rukba, the hospital's director, said 11 immature babies in the ICU and two other babies had to be isolated and treated for the infection. He said this can happen at any hospital because of overcrowding and other pressures. He said the bacterium is resistant to several types of antibiotics and is usually found in the bowels.
