Britain: Concurrent Strep Infection Deaths During Childbirth

(United Kingdom) On December 21st, two mothers died from identical infections after giving birth at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital. Campaigners have called for an independent investigation, claiming hygiene standards are not being implemented.

The cognizant National Health Service (NHS) Trust said it was a coincidence. However, notably and disturbingly, this report follows quite closely on the heels of a related report that British doctors allegedly lie on death certificates to hide the actual number of deaths resulting from infections acquired in NHS hospitals.

Both women, Amy Kimmance, 39, and Jasmine Pickett, 29, died from complications neighbored to streptococcus A bacterial infections.

 
Amy Kimmance --- Jasmine Pickett

A spokeswoman said Mrs Kimmance developed fatal toxic shock syndrome as a result of a group A streptococcal infection while Mrs Pickett died from a sudden onset of severe pneumonia, likely to have been caused by a group A streptococcal infection.

Despite claims that the deaths were coincidental, some contend that the deaths are linked to suspected poor hygiene and infection control measures system-wide in NHS hospitals.

Mark Enright, professor of molecular epidemiology at Imperial College, London, said: "It's extremely unlikely in my view that they are not linked."

Professor Enright said he believed a member of staff had been carrying the infection in their throat, got it on to their hands and passed it on.

Both the Kimmance and Pickett babies survived their mothers' deaths. Their families are naturally devastated.