DEATHS FROM TETANUS

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 May 1946, Page 3

DEATHS FROM TETANUS

TWO NEWLY-BORN BABIES SUCCUMB SPORES IN TALCUM POWDER (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 30. Two newly born babies have recently died from tetanus, and inquiries made by the Department of Health reveal that in all probability the infection was caused through the use of talcum dusting powder which was infected with tetanus spores. Further inquiries show that tetanus spores were present in the talc used in making the powder, which was imported from overseas. A warning to the public that any brand of talcum dusting powder may be similarly infected, as in all probability all dusting powders were made from talc from the same source, was issued this evening, by the Minister of Health (Mr. Nordmeyer). The public, he said, were most strongly advised to cease using any such powder that might be in their possession unless they knew it had been rendered safe by heating to a sufficient temperature to kill tetanus spores. ‘‘The dusting powder constitutes a special risk for new-born babies,” said the Minister, “'and as soon as these cases came under the notice of the department, medical officers of health were instructed to caution all maternity hospital licensees, and all obstetrical nurses that they must not use any powder as dressing for a baby’s cord unless it has been adequately sterilised by heat.”

UNWISE TO ATTEMPT STERILISATION

(P.A.) DUNEDIN, May 31. Any stray tetanus spores that may have gained entrance to talcum may be killed by proper sterilisation by dry heat at a temperature of 150 degrees centigrade for at least one hour, stated Dr. D’Ath, professor of pathology, to-day. It is not wise for housewives to attempt this, however, as there is a difficulty in getting the temperature sufficiently high in an oven and danger of charring. There are proper facilities for adequatelycontrolled sterilisation at the Medical School and the school will treat supplies for chemists, doctors and nursing homes if requested. “The finding of tetanus spores in talcum is probably very unusual,” said Dr. D’Ath, “but one must guard against the usual as well as the com-.I mon. The danger of dusting talcum, which contains tetanus spores, even as face powder is that it might infect abrasions, cuts or an open wound. The I biggest danger is, of course, when it is used to dry off umbilical cords in new-born infants. I

“There are all sorts of possibilities | of entrance of tetanus spores, one of the most likely being through packing material in cartons or bags.”| Inquiries in the city elicited the i'actj that an immense quantity of talcum j powder is used by men after shaving, women after a bath and also men j back from Pacific service who have! got accustomed to its use for drying off. There have been no local cases of tetanus resulting from the use of talcum powder, and, considering the quantity used, the incidence is infin-| itesimal. ! The health officer stated that all; the nursing .homes had been instruct-' ed to use sterilisation in accord with., the instructions in a Health Depart- 1 ment publication. h