Culture test results awaited in PBM post-delivery kidney cases; report due in 2–3 days

Jaipur: The cause of kidney-related complications in seven women after deliveries at Bikaner’s PBM Hospital remains unclear, with an expert team from SN Medical College, Jodhpur, saying culture test reports are still awaited and its final findings are expected in “two to three days”.

The update came a day after health minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar said there was no prima facie evidence of medical negligence, though doctors on the probe said conclusions should wait until all laboratory reports are in.

“The culture reports are still awaited, and only after receiving them will we be able to reach a definitive conclusion. We have asked for additional samples from Bikaner and expect the final report to be ready within the next two to three days,” said Dr R S Jodha, principal of SN Medical College.

Jodha said the team is examining multiple possible causes, including extreme heat, which can sometimes favour bacterial growth. “Patients suffering from anaemia, diabetes, hypertension and other underlying ailments are generally more vulnerable to infections that may not significantly affect healthier individuals,” he said.

Investigators also noted that no similar complications have been reported among the large number of women who delivered, including via caesarean section, at PBM Hospital during the same period. “If there had been a common source of infection or a problem directly linked to the surgical procedure, we would have expected many more cases. So far, no similar cases have come to light,” Jodha said.

The expert team returned to Jodhpur early Wednesday after reviewing records, speaking with treating doctors and checking infection-control protocols at PBM Hospital.

On the patients’ condition, Jodha said one woman on ventilator support had pre-existing complications, while the others were recovering. “The kidney injury appears to be acute rather than chronic. Most patients are responding to treatment and, based on current assessments, should recover within a few weeks to a month,” he said.

Separately, the Drug Control Department collected samples of 10 medicines, including Oxytocin injections, from PBM Hospital. Officials said conclusions would be drawn only after lab reports for the medicines and biological samples are received.

The seven women developed complications 10 to 15 days after delivery, with several requiring dialysis and intensive care, prompting multiple inquiries by state authorities and independent medical experts.