Karbala health officials deny ICU infection claims, defend hospital reputation

KARBALA — Health officials in Karbala have rejected claims made by Dr. Murtada Diaa in an interview with journalist Haider Hamadani, in which Diaa alleged that a dangerous bacterial outbreak was spreading in the intensive care unit of the Imam al-Hasan al-Mujtaba Hospital and that he had been threatened for speaking out.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the hospital confirmed that the bacteria in question, klebsiella, “exists naturally in the human body, in the nose, mouth, or intestines, and is harmless except for patients with weakened immune systems, such as those with diabetes, cancer, or the elderly.” The hospital said most ICU patients fall into these categories and are routinely tested for the bacteria. It added that klebsiella is “not endemic” in the hospital.

The Karbala Health Department noted that the ICU’s recovery rate exceeds 80 percent this year, calling it “a very high percentage globally.”

The department also defended the hospital’s reputation, describing it as one of Iraq’s top medical institutions, serving thousands of patients each month, including more than half from outside the governorate. It said the hospital recently received the Golden Initiative certificate for excellence in patient experience under the safety and quality classification of the Arab Hospitals Federation, becoming the first in Iraq to earn the distinction.

The department emphasized that the hospital “is a success story,” operates under Ministry of Health regulations, and follows international protocols.

“We assure our citizens that the staff of the Karbala Health Department, across all specialties, remain vigilant and compassionate in serving the people under all circumstances,” the statement said. “The recovery stories of our patients are the clearest evidence of these efforts.”