Autoclave explodes at Ujjain's Max Hospital: 2 injured, License temporarily suspended

Ujjain: A major incident unfolded at Max Care Hospital in the Nanakheda area when an autoclave used for sterilizing surgical instruments exploded, causing severe burn injuries to two staff members. As a result, the hospital's license has been suspended for 10 days, and it is prohibited from admitting patients during this time.

Both the employees have been referred to Indore for medical treatment, it is reported that they were sanitizing the equipment used in the operations when the accident happened. The employees have been identified as a young man and a woman who have suffered maximum burns from the blast. 

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According to a News 18 report, the explosion occurred in a room on the second floor of Max Care Hospital, located in the Nanakheda Mahakal Commercial Complex. At that time, the two employees were busy sanitising the instruments used in operations in the autoclave. An autoclave is a machine that uses steam under pressure to kill harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores on items that are placed inside a pressure vessel. 

During the process, the autoclave suddenly released steam and boiling water causing an explosion that severely burnt these two staffers, ABP reported that the explosion was powerful enough to shatter the glass windows of the hospital. 

As soon as the information about the incident was received, Nanakheda police and health department officials reached the spot and started an investigation. Preliminary investigation revealed the lid of the autoclave, in which the instruments used in operations are protected from re-infection, suddenly opened. The hot water kept in it fell on the employees and they got burnt.

Speaking about the matter to ETV Bharat, Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Ashok Patel said, "We have inspected the spot. The lid of the autoclave, in which the instruments used in operations are protected from re-infection, suddenly opened. The hot water kept in it fell on the employees and they got burnt. They are severely burnt. The problem may worsen if they do not get timely treatment, so they have been referred to Indore. Both have been advised to be shifted to the burn unit. The license of the hospital has been cancelled for 10 days."

During this period, only the patients already admitted to the hospital will be treated and admission of new patients has been prohibited. 

Meanwhile, accusations have been made against the hospital authorities for suppressing the incident. CMHO Ashok Patel told Amarjuala that the hospital management had hidden the incident. He claimed that this incident happened at 1 pm but the information was received in the evening.

A relative of the injured employee, said, "My relative has been working in the hospital for the last 4 months. Today suddenly I got a call from the hospital to come immediately. When I reached there, I saw that she was burnt. A young man was also injured along with her. She did not get treatment for a long time. Later an ambulance was called and she was referred to Indore."

In response to the tragic incident, Sandeep Singh, a representative of Max Hospital Management, said, "The instruments used during the operation are autoclaved to prevent infection. During this process, a woman and a male employee, who were working there at that time, got burnt due to the sudden release of water from the boiler. The cost of treatment of both will be borne by the hospital management."

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