AN infection that contributed to the death of two premature babies in Glasgow has only ever been seen in China and Germany, health officials have confirmed.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said the rare strain of Staphylococcus aureus that affected infants at the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital had never been seen in the UK before and had proved “very challenging” to bring under control. The board's Medical Director, Jennifer Armstrong, said it would continue to screen babies “until we are absolutely certain that it is out of our hospitals.”

The Evening Times revealed on Friday that a fourth baby had been treated for the infection, which is spread by body contact. Four other infants had the bacteria on their skin but did not require treatment.

The health board was challenged over the deaths by a neonatal deaths charity at its annual review meeting, held yesterday at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Read more: Fourth baby treated for rare bacterial infection at Glasow hospital 

Jean Anne Mitchell, who campaigns for birth standards, said: “I’m absolutely shocked and horrified to find that babies in our neonatal units are dying of Staphylococcus, which is a blood stream infection caused by body to body contact.

“When you have more than one baby that has died... one baby is one baby too much. Parents cannot move forward.

“There must be an audit trail of staff who dealt with these babies. Staff are going from unit to unit to cover gaps.

"We must get answers and we must be accountable.

Read more: Source of premature baby infection 'may never be known' 

“If my baby was being cared for in a neonatal unit I would expect that everything was being done to make my baby better and not for someone to not have done something to give my baby the best chance to survive.

“I was horrified to hear that the comment from NHSGGC that you were going to have to speak to visitors coming to unit.

“Parents who are already suffering, the last thing they want to know is that they may have done something to cause this.”

Dr Jennifer Armstrong, Medical Director of NHSGGC said: “This has been a challenging infection to bring under control. For this particular strain, it was the first time it has been seen in the UK.

“We worked very closely with England and that does mean screening all parents, all staff and all visitors who come into the unit. It’s been a very, very robust process

“We are still screening babies and we will continue to do so until we are absolutely certain that it is out of our hospitals.”