PRINCE GEORGES HOSPITAL CENTER TEMPORARILY CLOSING ITS LEVEL III NICU

CHEVERLY, MD NOVEMBER 2, 2016 Effective today, Wednesday, November 2, Prince

Georges Hospital Center (PGHC) has begun the process to temporarily close its Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and transfer five NICU patients to other hospitals with neonatal
intensive care services. This decision was made after two neonatal patients tested positive for
the presence of the bacterium Pseudomonas.
Pseudomonas is a bacteria widely found in the environment. However, it can lead to illness in
small babies with health challenges as well as other vulnerable patients.
Prince Georges Hospital Center temporarily closed its NICU this past August due to a similar
discovery. In response to that discovery, and in the interest of ultimate patient safety, the
hospital notified County and State regulatory bodies and transferred its NICU patients. Under
the direction of, and in collaboration with a team of epidemiologists, public health authorities,
and infectious disease experts, the hospital completed an extensive epidemiological review and
developed a plan of action to identify a root cause and operational initiatives to mitigate
reoccurrence.
The mitigation plan included terminal cleaning of the NICU, extensive treatment of the water
supply system, and ongoing infection control measures. The root cause of the previous
bacterium presence was found to be associated with the water supply system feeding the NICU.
The hospital reopened its NICU on October 4, after multiple independent test results indicated
that there was no identified presence of the bacterium in the water system.
Since the reopening of the NICU, no evidence of the presence of Pseudomonas bacterium
within the water supply system has been identified.
At this time there is no environmental indication or defined cause for the latest bacterium
presence. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution, PGHC today made the decision to
temporarily close the NICU after collaborative consultation with public health authorities.
Our highest priority is the safety and well-being of our patients, as well as supporting the
needs of our families, said Sherry B. Perkins, PhD, RN, Executive Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer, Dimensions Healthcare System. This is a complex epidemiological case, but
our dedicated group of public health experts are working closely to determine the cause of this
latest bacterium presence. We have concerns over the rediscovered presence within the NICU

setting, but we will be relentless in researching and eliminating the bacterium however
possible.
The hospital will continue to work collaboratively with public health, epidemiology, and
infection control experts from the Prince Georges County Health Department, the Maryland
Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and
Centers For Disease Control and Prevention to identify the root cause of the recent positive
colonization cultures.

Media Contact
Delores Butler
301-618-3858
240-676-4615