A prominent Montreal children's hospital is under scrutiny following revelations that six premature babies died after they were infected with a bacterium breeding in the institution's aging drainage system.

An investigation by CBC's French-language service Radio-Canada has found that six babies died after they contracted Pseudomonas aeruginosa during their stay in the neo-natal intensive care ward at Montreal's Sainte-Justine Hospital in 2004 and 2005.

The investigation found that nearly 50 babies were infected with the bacterium, which thrives in harsh conditions and typically targets the respiratory system, causing pneumonia and septicemia among people with weakened immune systems.

The deaths have raised critical concerns among management about the state of Sainte-Justine Hospital's infrastructure.

"I would say that in 2004, conditions were unacceptable. It was unacceptable," said Pauline Turpin, the hospital's assistant general manager.

The ward was crowded at the time, said Dr. Françine Lefebvre, head of the hospital's neo-natal ward.

"We had a unit that was much smaller than desired, and that was not up to standard. Babies were practically stacked in side by side," she told Radio-Canada. 

The first victim died in June 2004 after contracting the pathogen, at which point doctors alerted hospital administrators. 

"From the first death, we rang the alarm bell and demanded an investigation into infection prevention," Lefebvre said.

Ward disinfected

The hospital disinfected the ward and tried to locate the bacterium's spawning ground, but within 18 months, five more babies infected with pseudomonas died.

The unit remained open with Montreal's Public Health Department's approval, to the consternation of doctors in the ward.

"They didn't recommend closing the unit," said Pauline Turpin, the hospital's assistant general manager. "It's a unit that is under constant pressure, and there's a demand for neonatal care."

Physicians in the ward formally complained to the administration, which conceded and closed the unit in December 2005, and transferred babies to other parts of the hospital. At that time, the hospital discovered the bacterium was breeding in the ward's sinks, which were not draining properly.

In its investigation, Radio-Canada examined the hospital's drainage system using specialized equipment, and discovered the plumbing was worn and cracked in spots, and advanced corrosion blocked the main drains.

The problem is difficult to resolve: Overhauling the 50-year-old hospital would require the closure of significant portions of the health centre, staff said.

"To embark in major repairs on the drains, we would have to almost stop care or relocate in a significant way, which is very difficult in this context," said Richard Labbé, manager of administrative services.

The hospital is renovating the neo-natal ward, and the Public Health Department maintains there is no immediate danger to the hospital population, since precautions are being taken to protect patients with low immune systems.

Preemies continue to be treated in other parts of the hospital while the work is completed. Hospital officials said the new ward is scheduled to open next year.