Cause behind Kota postpartum deaths still unclear

Kota: The cause behind four postpartum deaths and the infection that sickened 10 women in govt hospitals here remains unascertained a week after the first cases surfaced, even as two patients continue to be on life support and two others shifted to the general ward.A fresh state-level team Monday inspected the hospitals where the deaths and infections were reported."So far, the root cause of the deaths and infection has not been identified. We are unable to pinpoint where it is occurring and why. A local committee and a team of experts from Jaipur are investigating the matter," said Dr Nilesh Jain, principal of New Medical College (NMCH).A source in the state drug dept said medicines were unlikely to be responsible, as the same drugs were being used in other hospitals without similar incidents. The source indicated the infection may have originated within the Kota hospital itself.At the Super Speciality Block (SSB), two postpartum women shifted from JK Lon Hospital Saturday remained critical and were on life support Monday, said NMCH additional principal Dr RP Meena.Four other postnatal women shifted from NMCH's SSB last week after their condition suddenly deteriorated. "Of them, two were moved to the general ward after showing improvement, one was stable and one remained critical," Meena said, adding that the improved patients were still not completely out of danger.