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Soon after the surgery was completed, the eyes of 11 patients were found to be infected.

After administering immediate treatment, the hospital sent nine of the affected patients to the Srinagarindra Hospital, also located in Khon Kaen; while one was sent to a hospital in Nakhon Pathom at the request of relatives and one continued receiving treatment at the Khon Kaen Hospital.

Of the 11 patients, the eyes of two patients had to be removed, while five lost their eyesight.

So far, four of the 11 patients have recovered satisfactorily, though six have been allowed to go home and the rest are still being treated at the Khon Kaen Hospital.

Meanwhile, hospital director Dr Weerapan Supanchaimat said yesterday the affected patients would be compensated according to law. Under the law, each of the patients is entitled to a compensation of between Bt50,000 and Bt120,000.

Weerapan said his hospital had already given Bt54,000 in initial assistance to the patients.

"We will also provide the best treatment possible, and those whose eyes have been taken out will be provided with artificial eyes," Weerapan said.

Niyom Saennoi, 64, said his right eye hurt a lot after the surgery at the Khon Kaen Hospital on December 15. Later, he was summoned for an eye examination during which he was told that he would lose his eyesight due to a serious infection.

"I could not take it, it was too much to bear," Niyom said, adding that he only pulled through due to the overwhelming support he got from his wife, children and doctor.

"The doctor promised to do his best for my other eye," he said.

Meanwhile, all eye surgery has been suspended at the hospital, Weerapan said.

The hospital's committee on the control and prevention of infectious diseases reported that the infections had been caused by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.

"Though this bacterium is quite common, it is unclear why it got into the wounds. At this point, we are convinced the infection was contracted during surgery," Weerapan said, adding that the hospital's standards about patient care before, during and after surgery would be improved.

"We will not allow such a thing to happen again," he said.

Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Phaijit Warachit expressed his sympathy, saying: "We are sorry for what has happened."

Paijit said the patients and their families should be given good care, adding that he had already instructed all hospitals to prevent such incidents.