Six Newborns Die At Brazil Hospital: What Bacteria Is Causing The Deaths?

At least six newborns have died at a Brazil hospital after a bacteria outbreak. Regional Hospital in Ceilandia, Brazil, just outside the capital city of Brasilia first came under attack by the reddish microorganism Serratia Marcescens sometime around the last week of March.

The most recent newborn death happened on Tuesday when a two-day-old baby died of "circumstances similar" to deaths earlier in the week. Following the recent deaths, the hospital quarantined a number of newborns in protective quarters seen in this picture from Fox News Latino. The bacteria affects principally urinary tracts and sometimes can be found on the film on one's teeth.

The Serratia bacteria was first discovered in Italy in 1819 by a pharmacist named Barolomeo Bizio after he witnessed a discoloration in prepared cornmeal. It is known to inhabit damp environments, such as restrooms, where it reportedly eats the phosphoric properties of soap scum. Bleach is said to be the most effective preventative substance of the Serratia bacteria, and the Health bureaucracy in Brazil has reportedly initiated investigations into the conditions inside Regional Hospital.