Bacterial outbreak in Guadalajara NICU linked to at least 18 infant deaths

An outbreak of Klebsiella pneumoniae and the fungus Candida albicans has claimed the lives of at least 18 newborns in the neonatal ward of the Gynecology-Obstetrics Hospital of the Western National Medical Center of IMSS in Guadalajara, Jalisco, since March. The infections have affected premature infants and those undergoing invasive procedures, with symptoms including jaundice, organ failure and septic shock. Mothers of the victims created a WhatsApp group named “Bereaved Moms” to exchange information and demand compensation, citing inadequate hand-washing practices by staff who bring personal items into the unit.

The hospital’s infection control measures, such as entry filters and hand-washing posters, have reportedly not been consistently followed. A collective complaint has been filed with the Attorney General’s Office, while individual families pursue separate legal actions, and none have received psychological assistance from IMSS.