Inquiry as two new mothers die from same bug

Teachers Amy Kimmance, 39, and Jasmine Pickett, 29, gave birth at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester on 21 December. Within 72 hours, both had died from complications linked to streptococcus A - known as Strep A - which normally causes sore throats.

Mrs Kimmance gave birth to a girl, Tess, and was discharged from hospital that day but her condition deteriorated and she was readmitted two days later, where she died of toxic shock syndrome.

Mrs Pickett, who had a boy, Christopher, was rushed back to hospital on Christmas Eve with severe pneumonia. She died a short time later.

A spokeswoman for Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS trust said both women died from complications caused by Strep A, but the deaths appeared to be coincidental.

The Trust's medical director Dr Kevin Stewart said: "Investigations so far show the maternity unit is unlikely to have been the source of these infections.

"Women need not worry about coming here. Thankfully, we live in an age where deaths during or after childbirth are very rare, as are those from group A streptococcal infections. This makes these deaths all the more shocking."

Mrs Kimmance was a teacher at independent girls' school St Swithun's in Winchester, and mother of two other children, Oliver, six, and Alice, three.

Her husband John said: "Her sudden death has left a huge void. She was so excited to be expecting our third child and was delighted to come home after the birth. I am in shock. The children and her family will miss a wonderful mother, daughter and sister."

Mrs Pickett, of Colden Common, came from Leyte in the Philippines. Her husband David said: "Jasmine was a kind and loving wife with a radiant smile and warm nature. She was the kind of wife most men could only dream of. She was greatly looking forward to motherhood."

Up to 30 per cent of people carry, but are not infected by, Strep A. Mark Enright, professor of molecular epidemiology at Imperial College London, said: "My best bet is a member of staff had a sore throat and the bacteria was passed to the women. It points to some kind of breakdown in infection control procedures and good hygiene practice."

The trust spokeswoman said there was no evidence directly linking the maternity unit or staff with the deaths, but extensive swabbing had been carried out. She said group A streptococcal infections were not superbugs and were typically passed on outside hospitals.

Inquests into the deaths have been opened and adjourned.