The Rajasthan government on Sunday directed all medical colleges and hospitals in the state to strictly enforce sterilisation and aseptic protocols during all surgical and post-surgical procedures. This directive comes amid an investigation into the deaths of three women following C-sections at the New Medical College Hospital (NMCH) in Kota earlier this week.
Directive to Medical Institutions
Instructions were issued to principals, controllers of all medical colleges, and medical superintendents of attached hospitals. The directive emphasizes immediate compliance with prescribed standards for infection control, cleanliness, and sterilisation practices. Authorities have been instructed to take a strict view of any lapse in maintaining aseptic conditions, particularly in operation theatres where maternal and surgical care is provided.
Investigation into Deaths
The cause of the three maternal deaths at NMCH is yet to be ascertained. Investigators are focusing on the possibility that the women contracted an infection in the operation theatre during surgery. Officials have collected samples from the OT and sent them for testing. A medical education department official stated, “The report of the samples from the OT is yet to be received. The fumigation of the OT has already been done to prevent infection. The OT was briefly opened after the process and has now been closed again.”
The medical education department is not ruling out surgical site infection after C-section delivery, a known postoperative complication that studies suggest affects around 3% to 15% of women. Officials noted that C-section-related surgical site infection can carry a maternal mortality risk of up to 3%.
Examining Lapses in Protocols
Investigating teams are examining whether there were lapses in sterilisation and infection-control protocols in the OT where the procedures were performed. Culture test results are awaited and are expected to indicate whether harmful bacteria were present and whether they can be linked to the complications and deaths.
A gynaecologist at a government-run hospital attached to a medical college said, “We have received directive calls for immediate compliance with prescribed standards for infection control, cleanliness and sterilisation practices during all surgical and post-surgical procedures. We have been instructed to take a strict view of any lapse in maintaining aseptic conditions, especially in operation theatres where maternal and surgical care is provided.”
