Health Inspectorate to investigate complaint of reused syringe for infant at Jēkabpils hospital
The Health Inspectorate has launched an investigation after a mother complained that a syringe with white residue was used to administer medication to her baby at Jēkabpils Regional Hospital, allegedly reused despite being single-use.
The Health Inspectorate (VI) will investigate a patient's complaint regarding the possible reuse of a single-use syringe for administering medication to an infant under one year old at Jēkabpils Regional Hospital, as reported by Latvian Television's "De facto" program.
The baby's mother, Laima, said that in early June, she brought her child to the hospital, where inhaled medication Ventolin was prescribed. She noticed white residue and particles in one of the syringes. After she pointed it out, the medical staff replaced the solution. Later, she observed a white substance on the syringe plunger and took a photo. Concerned about the medication's quality, she did not use it and contacted the staff.
According to the patient, one of the nurses confirmed that the syringes are disinfected and reused. Upon her request, she received a new, packaged syringe and a fresh solution.
VI official Guna Bonzaka emphasized that single-use syringes are not intended for sterilization or disinfection and should be used only once. The inspectorate may review medical documentation and conduct unannounced visits during the investigation.
Hospital board chairman Ervīns Keišs stated that no formal complaint had been received from the patient, so no internal investigation was conducted. The hospital will await a request from the Inspectorate.
Lawyer Solvita Olsena commented that patient safety incidents in Latvia are often not investigated thoroughly enough, and in this case, the photograph taken by the mother could be significant.
