Disinfectant prime suspect in blind cases

"Tests have shown signs of contamination in the remaining solution," chief of the hospital's ophthalmology division Dr Weerasak Anut-angkoon said yesterday.

He added that the results would be forwarded to a fact-finding panel that was set up by the Public Health Ministry to determine why 11 patients developed serious eye infections after undergoing cataract surgeries at the Khon Kaen Hospital last month.

Of the 11, 10 have lost sight in the infected eye.

According to Weerasak, the disinfectant was disposed right after use in line with hygiene standards so the one used on the patients could not be tested.

"However, when we tested the remaining solution, we found that there were grounds to believe it might be contaminated," Weerasak said, falling short of speculating as to how the contamination could have taken place.

The ophthalmologist went on to say that initially the hospital suspected it might have been the eye cleaner because it had not been checked in the first round of tests.

"Empty bottles of the eye cleaner were thrown away so they could not be checked. But tests on the remaining bottles shows no sign of contamination," he said.

In addition, two rounds of tests on surgical tools and medical appliances also showed no signs of contamination.

So far, Weerasak said eye surgeries would be postponed until it can be established how the infections took place. He expects the conclusion to be released later this week.

Despite the tragedy, Weerasak insisted the people with eye problems should continue seeking treatment at Khon Kaen Hospital.

"Patients will not be taken into the operating theatres for examinations, and we will only conduct surgery on serious cases and only if the patients give their consent," he said.

Meanwhile, Srinagarind Hospital dispatched an ambulance to bring Amnat Charoen resident, 48-year-old Nongkran Sawasud, to Khon Kaen for an eye examination. Nongkran, left totally blind after contracting infections, had undergone eye surgery at the Srinagarind Hospital.

However, she lost her eyesight because she failed to see her doctor as scheduled in November.

The hospital's director Dr Charnchai Panthongviriyakul said Nongkran would be kept in hospital for observation.

Both the Srinagarind and Khon Kaen hospitals are located in Khon Kaen.