Four babies died Saturday in a South Korean university hospital, and forensic examiners and health authorities are investigating.
The babies were two girls, 9 days and 24 days old, and two boys, 5 weeks and 6 weeks old.
All four autopsies showed an expansion of gas in the intestines, which causes pain and could result in a rupture. A complete and precise diagnosis will not be made for about a month, during which time evaluations of microscopic specimens and other tests, including blood tests, will be done.
One possible diagnosis based on the autopsy report is enteritis, an inflammation of the intestines that can be caused by bacteria or a medication error.
Three of the infants’ blood culture tests before their deaths showed suspected bacterial infection, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The exact bacterial species will be confirmed Wednesday, the agency reported.
A five-member team of forensic examiners, led by the director of the Central Forensic Medical Center, Lee Bong-woo, conducted the autopsies after allegations in the media that the deaths were caused by bacterial infection, medical malpractice or some other preventable cause.
