Bloom said the remaining infected babies had been isolated to prevent further infection‚ and the neonatal and labour wards had been thoroughly scrubbed down.
Bloom also welcomed the decision by the Gauteng Health Department to put the hospital’s CEO‚ Nomonde Mqhayi-Mbambo‚ on special leave as she allegedly ignored warnings by staff that overcrowding in the neonatal ward had increased the risk of infection.
Bloom said Dr Jatin Ganda had been tasked to oversee operations at the hospital until an acting CEO was appointed.
New maternity and neonatal patients had been diverted to other hospitals.
Bloom said there was a team from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases which was trying to find the source of the outbreak.
“It is very distressing that so many babies have died from a preventable hospital-acquired infection.
“This troubled hospital needs new leadership and the filling of critical staff vacancies so that quality care is provided to all patients‚” Bloom said.