Investigators are trying to identify the most likely source of the pseudomonas outbreak in the neonatal unit of the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital in Belfast in which three babies died. All three babies were premature and were in the neonatal intensive care unit.

The hospital has confirmed that a further three premature babies were also infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Of these one has died from other causes and two have recovered. Another five babies have the bacterium on their skin, but this is not causing active infection. The remaining babies in the neonatal unit have no sign of infection.

The hospital said that it had now carried out biodecontamination of the intensive care part of the neonatal unit. …