New Delhi, India (CNN) -- A government hospital in western India has found infected intravenous fluids (IVs) in its stocks after 12 women in labor died in 10 days from excessive hemorrhage, its head said.
Narendra Chhangani, the medical superintendent of Umaid hospital at Jodhpur in Rajasthan state, said that most of the women already suffered pregnancy-related complications.
No other patient given IVs from the same stocks developed symptoms, he said.
Nonetheless, laboratory tests on fluids ordered after the alarming deaths confirmed "few bottles" were indeed infected, Chhangani said.
"This could be one of the causes," the hospital chief said, adding a police complaint has been filed for deeper investigation and action against IV suppliers.
Most of the newborns are safe, Chhangani said.
Official data puts India's maternal mortality ratio at 254 per 100,000 live births. The 2004-06 figure translates into about 67,000 maternal deaths annually, authorities say.
India aims to bring down the nation's maternal mortality ratio to 100 per 100,000 live births by 2012.
By Harmeet Shah Singh, CNN
