Antibiotic Resistant Klebsiella Pneumoniae Carbapenemases (KPC) Bacteria Confirmed As Cause of Death in Panama
After six months of investigations, the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (Imelcf) confirmed to the Third Superior Prosecutor that some of the deaths that occurred in the Social Security Fund (CSS) hospital were caused by the antibiotic resistant Klebsiella Pneumoniae Carbapenemases (KPC) bacteria. The prosecutor Sofanor Espinosa said he had already received confirmation from the IMELCF that some of the deaths were caused by the KPC bacteria, but other patients who were similarly affected with the bacteria died of other causes. At the same time he predicted that given the complexity of the case, it will eventually be necessary to request an extension from the Judicial Branch to complete the investigations. On the other hand he said he is waiting for the Supreme Court to decide whether or not to combine all of the complaints made against the Director of the Social Security Fund, Guillermo Sáez-Llorens, into one case. (Prensa)
Editor's Comment: The outbreak of the Klebsiella Pneumoniae Carbapenemases (KPC) bacteria in Panama was made much worse thanks to the efforts of the administrators of the Social Security Fund in Panama to cover it up and to keep the existence of the outbreak out of the press. Once the news broke, and only after the news broke, did they finally start to deal with the situation in a coherent and logical manner. They got outside advice and assistance from international and foreign agencies. They got additional funding to pay for the drastic steps necessary to control the bacteria. The controlled access to the infected areas by the public, and limited visitation. None of these things were done until after the press got the story. Therefore, more people died than should have died, because of the mishandling of the case. Simply look at the cold statistics and death rates. KPC was much more "lethal" in Panama than in other countries.
