Firm guilty over contaminated feed

A PHARMACEUTICAL company yesterday admitted supplying contaminated feed for premature babies that allegedly caused the death of a nine-day-old boy.

An investigation was launched after three babies, including Yousef Al-Kharboush, died and another 20 needed treatment.

The infants developed Bacillus cereus bacteraemia, which was linked to ITH Pharma’s supply of feed to 14 hospitals in 2014.

The infants were given the fluid for nutrition because they were unable to feed on their own between May 27 and June 2 2014.

Adrian Darbishire QC, on behalf of ITH Pharma, appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London and entered guilty pleas to three offences.

They include failing to make a suitable and sufficient risk assessment between August 1 2009 and June 1 2014 over the supply of the feed to patients under the 1999 Health and Safety at Work Regulations and two charges of supplying a medicinal product not of the nature or quality specified in the prescription.

One of the charges under the Medicines Act relates to Yousef, while the second covers the other 22 babies, whose names are contained in a confidential index.

Yousef and his twin brother Abdulilah were born at St Thomas’ Hospital in central London at 32 weeks in May 2014. While in intensive care they were both fed intravenously but while Abdulilah was not affected, Yousef died.

Prosecutors allege his death resulted from him being fed the contaminated nutrient, although ITH Pharma denies his death was caused by the administration of the feed.

Judge Deborah Taylor will decide the issue during a two-day sentencing hearing on April 28.