The deaths of three babies after apparently being infected from intravenous drip infusions at the University of Mainz Medical Centre in Germany has sparked a debate among politicians and doctors over hygiene standards at German hospitals.

On 20 August 11 premature or seriously ill babies being treated in the hospital’s intensive care unit received the contaminated infusions, the university said. Two babies with congenital heart defects died the next day, and a third baby, born prematurely, died on 23 August. Four other babies also became seriously ill from the infusions, but their conditions had improved significantly by 27 August. It is not yet clear how the drips became contaminated.

Norbert Pfeiffer, head of …