TWO YEARS after a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at a Nicosia private clinic caused the deaths of three newborn babies, charges have been brought against four doctors who will appear in court next week.
The four Hippocration doctors – including a high ranking member of the clinic’s management – are facing six collective charges and are due to appear to Nicosia district court on January 19.
The case caused an outrage in late 2008 after 11 newborns – born in Hippocration hospital between December 18 and 22 – were admitted to the intensive care unit of Makarios state hospital in Nicosia suffering from Legionnaires’.
Three died and one was put on a respirator due to severe pneumonia although the baby was later released from hospital.
Bacteria causing the disease were found in a humidifier placed in the Hippocration newborns’ unit on December 18 as well as from parts of the hospital’s water distributing system.
One of the doctors is charged with causing death due to irresponsible and dangerous action.
Charges also include failing to take adequate measures to ensure the health and safety both of patients and staff members, as well as failing to follow legislation in relation to required health and safety checks and controls.
“None of the newborns were premature and had all left the private hospital in good general condition,” according to a 2009 health services report to the Unit for Surveillance and Control of Communicable Diseases.
However, they were “severely ill” when they were admitted to the intensive care unit between three and five days following their discharge, the report said.
All 11 babies had contracted pneumonia and had difficulties breathing and eating.
“Two of them had cyanotic attacks (turning red, pale or blue as a result of holding their breath after exhaling during crying), collapse and shock,” health services had said.
Hippocration’s nursery and maternity ward were temporarily closed on December 29, 2008 after confirmation that the infants had Legionnaires’ disease.
At the time of the outbreak Cyprus was the only European Union member which was not a member of its working group for Legionella Infections (EWGLI) and was not a signatory to the European guidelines for responding to cases of travel-related Legionnaires’ disease in participating countries.
The health ministry had said that they were nonetheless “in constant co-operation” with EWGLI’s network with a senior official saying at the time it was “no different if we are a member or not”.
The health ministry has since joined the European Legionnaires’ Disease Surveillance Network (ELDSNet), the EWGLI’s latest incarnation.
Legionnaires’ disease, a cause of pneumonia, has an incubation period ranging from two to ten days. It is considered a rare cause of pneumonia for children.
