70 patients with laparoscopic surgery wounds did not heal due to rare bacterial infection

(Dan Tri) - 70 cases in Quang Tri suffered from surgical wound infections caused by a rare type of bacteria. The cases had in common the fact that the surgical wounds did not heal normally.

On November 13, news from Quang Tri General Hospital, the unit has determined the cause of the incident in which many patients suffered surgical wound injuries after laparoscopic surgery.

According to hospital leaders, from July to October, the endoscopic surgery unit performed about 500 cases. Of these, 70 cases had swelling and prolonged discharge at the surgical site, 2-4 weeks after endoscopic surgery.

Leaders of Quang Tri Provincial General Hospital informed about the incident (Photo: Ngoc Chau).

The above cases have in common the characteristics of the surgical wound not healing normally, prolonged discharge, pain, red and swollen skin, and damage to the abdominal wall.

The leaders of Quang Tri General Hospital held an urgent meeting with the Infection Control Council and related departments, determining that this was an unexpected medical incident and that it was necessary to find the cause and take measures to handle it.

Through investigation, the hospital determined that all cases were treated with emergency laparoscopic surgery in operating room No. 2, Department of Anesthesia and Resuscitation Surgery. Test samples did not detect common bacteria, the lesions were only localized in the abdominal wall, and the organs in the patient's abdomen were completely normal.

Quang Tri General Hospital has stopped operating room No. 2, disinfected the entire surgical area, changed the instrument sterilization process and focused on intensive treatment for injured patients.

To determine the cause, Quang Tri General Hospital has established a Professional Council and proactively contacted and consulted specialized hospitals and leading experts.

Expert Tran Huu Luyen, Vice President of the Vietnam Infection Control Association, directly surveyed, analyzed the sterilization process and assessed injuries on patients related to the incident at Quang Tri General Hospital.

Patients being treated at the hospital (Photo: Ngoc Chau).

On November 10, the Professional Council of Quang Tri General Hospital met and concluded that the cause was Nontuberculous Mycobacteria, a rare type of bacteria, causing damage to the patient's surgical wound.

Doctor CKII Phan Xuan Nam, Director of Quang Tri General Hospital, said that Nontuberculous Mycobacteria is a type of alcohol-resistant, acid-resistant bacillus, similar in shape to tuberculosis bacteria but not transmitted through the respiratory tract.

According to Dr. Nam, there have been cases of infection with the above bacteria, when treated with the correct regimen, all were cured.

Quang Tri General Hospital assigned departments and offices to contact all patients who had laparoscopic surgery in the past to monitor, visit and have policies to support affected patients.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/70-benh-nhan-khong-lanh-vet-mo-noi-soi-vi-nhiem-vi-khuan-hiem-gap-20251113105505260.htm