Overview

• The infants, born about three weeks earlier at 23 and 27 weeks and weighing roughly 700 grams each, developed Serratia marcescens infections and died of sepsis overnight on August 12–13.
• Health officials said the bacterium has been linked to industrial dishwashing soap used across the Bolzano hospital system, prompting a recall of the product.
• San Maurizio suspended acceptance of high‑risk premature births, moved 10 infants from the same ward to another, and arranged for new cases to be sent to Trento.
• Italy’s NAS opened a criminal investigation, and the Bolzano prosecutor will decide whether to order autopsies to assess possible malpractice or manslaughter.
• Authorities noted Serratia marcescens is widespread and usually harmless to healthy people but can be deadly for very premature infants.