A number of women are alleged to have died in India after being given infected intravenous (IV) glucose fluids. Health officials in the country’s western state of Rajasthan are investigating the deaths of 13 pregnant women who had been administered with IV fluids. The deaths have all occurred in the last 10 days at the government-run Umaid Hospital in the city of Jodhpur. Laboratory tests conducted on samples from batches of the IV fluids that the women were given have revealed that they were contaminated. The affected women had all suffered severe haemorrhaging while giving birth or had undergone Caesarean sections and received IV fluids before they died. Medical staff at the facility have said they believed the probable causes of death were infections brought on by tainted IV fluids.
An administrator at the hospital said that after the tests showed that three batches of glucose were contaminated, local police had been informed. The hospital also said it would be taking the matter up with the manufacturer, a local firm. Health officials were yesterday trying to ensure that the affected fluids were taken out of circulation and that health authorities in other Indian states were informed of the fatal effects of the glucose batches. India has the dubious distinction of having the world’s highest maternal death rates and sees the early demise of thousands of women every year during pregnancy or while giving birth. Health campaigners say many of the deaths could be avoided with better medical care and treatment.
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