Hyderabad: More than 50 cataract surgeries are performed at the Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital every day and experts say that when right protocols of sterilisation are not followed then cases of infections arise. Doctors said that in 2009 it was found that a ward boy was not sterilising the equipment and microscopes properly, and three cases of contamination were found.
Dr P.V. Nandkumar Reddy, former superintendent of Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital, said, “Each case requires separate instruments and after using, they have to be sterilised properly. The floor, trolleys, microscopes and other instruments which are used must be cleaned on a daily basis. But we had an instance and three cases were detected. Later the inquiry report showed that the ward boy would not sterilise the microscopes and other instruments properly, which resulted in blindness of the patients.”
Dr Reddy explained that it was later found that the ward boy suffered from tuberculosis and he would be present in the operation theatre and also in the microbiology laboratory. His continuous coughing also drew suspicion and he was suspended for six months from service. He didn’t recover and later died.
Patients suffer neglect
Health minister C. Laxma Reddy visited Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital on Wednesday and said that the infection was due to contamination of saline bottles. Two committees have been formed to review the situation.
While compensation for patients is not being talked about yet, Dr Reddy has assured proper treatment.
The five patients will be provided best care and if required specialists from private hospitals will also be called in, said the minister.
26 In 2014, 26 patients had gone blind after cataract operations in a government hospital in Nellore. The inquiry committee had then found that the saline bottles were contaminated.
Similar cases are seen at eye-camps. Ophthalmologists have to ensure the equipment are properly handled.
The Telangana Ophthalmology Society said that there were strict protocols for sterilisation and the drill has to be very strictly followed by hospitals.
The internal committee set up by deputy superintendent of the hospital Dr Rajender Gupta, found that the saline bottles were contaminated with Klebsiella bacteria.
Twenty-one patients were operated on in Operation Theatre No. 2 of the hospital, but saline bottles used for 13 patients led to the infection.
Ophthalmologists state that infections occur when instruments are not sterilised properly. One saline bottle is used for two to three patients in government hospitals.
