Reports patient dead, dozens infected after being given contaminated saline products

A patient’s death in a Queensland hospital is under investigation amid fears they were given a saline product contaminated with a dangerous bacteria.

The elderly patient died in the Buderim Private Hospital on the Sunshine Coast last week, media outlets have reported.

Health authorities have issued notices for hospital and clinical staff country-wide to stop using two InterPharma saline products.

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There are fears the products are contaminated with Ralstonia pickettii bacteria.

Between 30 and 50 infections have occurred in patients given the products, according to the reports.

Any link between the death of the patient in Queensland and the saline products is being investigated.

Queensland Health has not provided details around the patient’s death but confirmed there has been a “national outbreak” of Ralstonia infections.

“We are investigating all recent Ralstonia infections in Queensland to determine if any are linked to the national outbreak,” a department spokesperson said on Tuesday.

“To date, no cases in this cluster have been linked to Queensland Health facilities.

“We are participating in outbreak investigation meetings being led by NSW Health.

“On Friday, we issued a patient safety alert advising all public and private hospitals of the Ralstonia outbreak and requesting that they immediately quarantine two specific sodium chloride products, as per instructions by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

“We are working with public hospitals to ensure they have sufficient supplies of alternative products.”

The federal health department has been contacted for comment.

More to come …