All feeding drips- which were supplied to neo-natal units across the country- have since been recalled, and there are not suspected to be anymore cases of the fast developing bug.
The contaminated drips contained a bacteria which has in turn caused the newborn babies to contract blood poisoning.
The newborn baby, who has not been named in the press, passed away from the contamination died at Guys and St Thomas’ hospital in London, with other cases occurring in Luton and Chelsea and Westminster hospital.
Adam Finn, professor of paediatrics at Bristol University said: ‘When a medicine makes patients sick, it is everyone’s worst nightmare.’
‘This contamination incident seems to have been detected quickly but, tragically, not quickly enough to save a life lost. Having stopped the outbreak, the next priority will be to understand how it came to happen and ensure it cannot recur.’
A lawyer on behalf of the company which supplies the drips released a statement on the company’s behalf, reading: ‘We are very saddened to hear about the death of a baby in hospital, and that 14 others are ill with septicaemia.’
‘ITH Pharma is a specialist manufacturer of parenteral nutrition, which is given to babies in neo-natal intensive care units. The products in question, which are no longer in circulation, are made to order for individual patients on a daily basis, in response to bespoke orders from hospitals.’
‘We are co-operating fully with the MHRA in the investigation, and are doing everything we can to help them establish the facts in this case as quickly as possible.’