Two newborns die from hospital infections at Nantes university hospital
Nantes University Hospital says two newborns have died since summer 2025 of infections caught on its neonatal wards, with one outbreak still under watch.
Two newborns have died of hospital-acquired infections in neonatal units at Nantes University Hospital (CHU de Nantes) since the summer of 2025, the hospital said in a statement on Monday, confirming a report by regional newspaper Presse Océan. The infections have affected the hospital's neonatal intensive care and resuscitation units since 2022, the CHU said.
The hospital also recorded two cases of meningitis among newborns, without saying how many children in total were affected by the various infections detected, according to the CHU statement cited by Actu.fr. It said the episodes with the most serious consequences are now under control, and that one outbreak, caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is continuing under heightened surveillance, with no deaths attributed to it so far.
An audit carried out in January 2026 by the regional healthcare-associated infection prevention centre, CPIAS Pays de la Loire, found what Presse Océan described as persistent non-compliant practices among medical staff, paramedical staff and outside contractors working in the unit, according to Actu.fr. The CHU commissioned a further external review in June 2026 to assess current practices and the factors behind the spread of the bacteria, with results expected soon, it said.
What we know
- Official · Nantes University Hospital Two newborns have died of hospital-acquired infections in neonatal units at Nantes University Hospital since summer 2025, the hospital says.
- 1 outlet · Actu.fr The infections have affected the hospital's neonatal units since 2022; two newborn meningitis cases were also recorded.
- 1 outlet · Actu.fr One outbreak, caused by MRSA, remains under heightened surveillance; no deaths are attributed to it so far.
- 1 outlet · Actu.fr A January 2026 audit found non-compliant practices among staff and outside contractors, Presse Océan reported.
Not yet confirmed
- Unconfirmed The total number of newborns affected by the various infections has not been specified by the hospital.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Why it matters for Europe
The neonatal unit at Nantes University Hospital treats close to 850 newborns a year, among the most fragile patients in French hospitals. Repeated infection outbreaks in such wards go to the heart of infection-control standards at one of France's main regional teaching hospitals.
Sources
Reported by 2 reports from 2 independent outlets in 1 countries.
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Questions and answers
- How many newborns have died at Nantes University Hospital from infections?
- Two newborns have died since summer 2025 from infections acquired in the hospital's neonatal units, the CHU says.
- What is being done about it?
- The hospital says the most serious outbreaks are now controlled, one MRSA outbreak remains under surveillance, and an external review commissioned in June 2026 is assessing its practices.
This article was written with AI assistance from 2 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.