The cause of 70 patients with post-operative infections at Quang Tri Hospital has been determined.

70 surgical patients at Quang Tri Hospital were infected with a rare type of bacteria. Doctors confirmed that they have identified the type of bacteria, it is not life-threatening but the treatment time is prolonged.

Doctor Phan Xuan Nam - Hospital Director - met and explained to a patient with a rare infection on the afternoon of November 12 - Photo: HMC

On the evening of November 12, Quang Tri Provincial General Hospital (Nam Dong Ha Ward) held a press briefing on the incident of surgical wound injury after laparoscopic surgery and the treatment plan.

Efforts to find the cause

From September to early October 2025, the hospital recorded a number of cases of patients returning for re-examination with swelling and prolonged discharge at the surgical site after laparoscopic surgery for 2-4 weeks, mainly from the General Surgery Department and the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department.

Initially, doctors diagnosed a common post-operative infection. However, by mid-October, the number of patients returning for check-ups increased rapidly, with many cases not responding to treatment.

Screening 500 surgical patients from July 2025, the hospital discovered 70 patients with the above symptoms.

A family member of a fourth-grade patient said that on the night of October 7, the child underwent laparoscopic appendectomy, but later had to see a doctor for abdominal distension. The treatment has been going on for more than a month now but has not been completed, causing the child to miss school for a long time, putting the family under financial and work pressure.

All patients had laparoscopic surgery in operating room 2, Department of Anesthesia and Resuscitation Surgery.

The surgical wound did not heal, there was persistent discharge, pain at the surgical site, red and swollen skin, and the injury was only on the abdominal wall. The organs and viscera in the abdominal cavity were completely normal.

The hospital immediately stopped operating room number 2 for disinfection, and sterilized the entire operating room system to avoid missing the source of infection.

Doctor Phan Xuan Nam - Director of the Hospital - said that many solutions have been implemented such as establishing a professional council, inviting infection control experts... Quang Tri General Hospital has discovered that this bacteria is Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) .

Quang Tri Provincial General Hospital provided information to the press on the evening of November 12 about the cases of infection - Photo: HOANG TAO

No new cases detected, hope patients trust

The hospital coordinated with Hue Central Hospital to issue an initial treatment regimen and implement it from November 10. Treatment lasts 3-5 months depending on each person's condition, but patients can be discharged and return to normal activities after a short stay.

Through assessment, experts determined that this is a rare, atypical bacteria, with very little documentation on the bacteria, transmitted through tools or open wounds, not transmitted through the respiratory tract.

According to the hospital, the patient's injuries were mainly in the abdominal wall, not affecting internal organs. The disease is not life-threatening.

Dr. Nam said that the hospital has also set up a support team to monitor and contact each patient to monitor their health and provide mental and material support. Dr. Nam said that patients can continue treatment at the hospital or wish to be transferred to a higher level.

After the hospital disinfected, no more infected patients have been detected.

Previously, in 2013, Ha Giang General Hospital reported on surgical site infections with 92 cases of surgical site infections out of a total of 720 laparoscopic surgeries in 2 years; the cause was determined to be Nontuberculous Mycobacteria.

The clinical characteristics of the cases at Ha Giang Provincial General Hospital are nonspecific, causing many difficulties in finding the cause.

The characteristics and clinical symptoms recorded of patients at Quang Tri Provincial General Hospital are similar to those of patients at Ha Giang Provincial General Hospital.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/da-xac-dinh-nguyen-nhan-70-benh-nhan-viem-nhiem-sau-phau-thuat-o-benh-vien-quang-tri-20251112213646876.htm