Rat bite of ICU patient in Kamareddy govt. hospital: 2 doctors, one nurse suspended

HYDERABAD: The incident of a 43-year-old patient bitten by rats in the ICU of a state-run hospital in Kamareddy has caused a stir and resulted in suspension of two doctors and one nurse.

According to information, the victim, who had undergone decompressive craniotomy surgery at NIMS hospital on January 21 at Hyderabad, was shifted to Kamareddy a week ago.

While in the ICU there, he suffered rat bites on his fingers and the back of his heel on February 9. The patient who was earlier said to be in an unconscious state was stable

In response to the incident, a senior health official conducted an investigation and issued a memo initiating disciplinary action against those responsible for the alleged lapses.

The preliminary investigation revealed that rats were able to enter the ICU due to renovation work being carried out in the Dialysis unit beside it. The official also claimed that improper disposal of food by attendants of patients contributed to the entry of rats into the ICU and subsequently bite a patient.

Kamareddy collector Jitesh V Patil also conducted a inquiry and confirmed that the negligence of ICU in-charge Dr Kavya, ICU in-charge of general medicine Dr Vasanth Kumar and nurse G Manjula working during night shift caused the incident.

They were suspended and district coordinator of health services S Vijaya Lakshmi were surrendered to the government.

Telangana Vaidhya Vidhana Parishad commissioner Ajay Kumar also visited the hospital upon the instructions of Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha.

Meanwhile, the Telangana Teaching Government Doctors' Association (TTGDA) condemned the suspension of doctors claiming that the doctors had nothing to do with the incident instead it was the job of sanitation workers who had to look after all these things.