Panama KPC death toll climbs to 30

The deaths of patients from Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase noscomial resistant (KPC), in Panama’s Social Security Hospital has climbed to 30.

Javier Diaz Director of Medical Services at Arnulfo Arias Madrid hospital complex made the announcement on Tuesday, July 16.

Until last Friday CSS authorities had claimed only 22 deaths, while the Third Superior Prosecutor, responsible for the investigation recorded 24 fatalities.

Diaz said Tuesday the death of six people since August 4, when they began to apply the technical criteria for the registration of the bacteria-positive patients, gave the clearer picture.

The new approach is to separate the patients in whom the germ has caused a nosocomial infection, from those that  carry but do not develop the disease.

With the new scheme, the death toll for the CSS is 28, while according 

to the Public Ministry there are 30 fatal victims.

Diaz added that the number of patients who have tested positive for KPC in the past week increased from 71 to 82.

Meanwhile orthopedic patients who were transferred last to the Regional Hospital in December 24, could not be operated upon   because the CSS has not provided the technical report of validation of the operating room to the authorities of the regional hospital. This report validate things like temperature, humidity and bacteriological analysis of the surgical suite. 

The regional hospital's medical director, Raquel Gutierrez Mock explained that to begin operations at the hospital he directs, the CSS must submit a report validating that the operating room on December 24 is suitable and meets the quality standards used in the Hospital.

There are   29 patients with injuries, and most need operations for, a fractured tibia, arm or hip.

The patients are cared for by 12 nurses from the CSS. 

 "The written report was not ready for today (yesterday) and so there have been no operations. But our operating room is ready, as we agreed with the CSS, "the medical director."