A web search for Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital reveals the recent case of infection post surgery in 13 people is not the first such instance. At least two instances of infection following cataract surgeries were reported in the past decade with the last case of infection of several people, being reported in 2010.
Three years earlier, bacteria infection in saline was blamed for infection that affected about 15 people. More recently, contaminated water the hospital was supplied with last December, forced doctors to defer surgeries.
As in previous instances, the hospital’s establishment has maintained that its surgeons were not at fault.
“Only those who were operated on that day in one theatre contracted the infection. No body else fell sick, indicating that something is common to these patients,” said Dr. Rajender Gupta, the hospital’s Deputy Superintendent. The hospital has concluded that the RL Solution used on that day during the surgery was to be blamed for bacterial infection following testing of the solution at the hospital’s lab.
However, the supplier of the solution has denied quality issues with the product.
Yusuf Badar of Haseeb Pharmaceuticals that supplied the solution to Telangana questioned why RL was used to irrigate the eye when it is not prescribed for the purpose.
“Normal saline irrigation solution is to be used. RL is prescribed for intravenous use but not for use in the eye,” he said, adding that his company has supplied more than 30 lakh bottles to Telangana and undivided AP without any issue.
While he maintained his company’s products are contamination-free post production, he did not rule out the possibility of contamination in one or few bottles due to handling and transportation.
That notwithstanding, Health Minister C. Laxma Reddy who visited the patients on Wednesday said his government will take action against the supplier though it is yet to be established through the government’s instituted enquiry and testing in external labs if the solution is indeed to be blamed.
