The Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) on Friday defended its nurses working at hospitals where 17 infant deaths have been recorded in a week.

"Whilst we sympathise with families who have lost their babies, we take strong exception at the depiction of nurses, who are at the forefront of healthcare services, as murderers," Denosa said in a statement.

At least 17 infants had died in the past week at hospitals in Gauteng. Six died at Charlotte Maxeke Academic hospital on Tuesday due to diarrhoea.

Another 11 died at the Natalspruit Hospital in Katlehong, due to reasons which were not yet known.

Denosa accused the media of unfairly blaming nurses for the deaths of the infants and said that the lack of resources was hampering care.

"Denosa reiterates that challenges that include gross staff shortages, lack of resources and others are continuing and will continue to impact adversely in the delivery of quality healthcare to our people".