Metropolitan authorities have inspected a hospital in Tokyo's Sumida Ward after it was found that seven inpatients were infected with serratia bacteria, of whom three died last week, officials said Tuesday.
According to officials at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's public health department, 14 inpatients at Sumida Central Hospital reported suffering fevers and other symptoms early last week.
Among the patients, three women in their 70s died between Tuesday and Friday, and doctors detected bacteria of the genus serratia in their blood.
Later in the week, the bacteria were detected in four other patients, of whom three were reportedly in serious condition.
The bacteria exist in the natural world and the large intestine, and are not usually pathogenic.
The metropolitan officials suspect the three women died because their immune systems had been weak.
Metro officials inspected the hospital Monday to examine the possibility of further infections at the facility and instructed hospital staffers to take preventive measures.