Infection control measures have been tightened at the Mid-Western Regional Maternity Hospital in Limerick following the discovery of four confirmed and one suspected case of a serious bacterial skin infection in infants born at the hospital.
The infection, which has been identified in babies born since February, is known as staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS).
The source of infection has not yet been discovered. Staff are being screened this week.
SSSS is an illness characterised by red blistering skin that looks like a burn or scald. It can be successfully treated with antibiotics and the Health Service Executive (HSE) in the midwest said last night that the four babies who had been confirmed with the infection had now recovered.
This is the first known recorded outbreak of SSSS in Ireland and only a small number of outbreaks are reported internationally in medical journals, the HSE said.
Dr Nuala O'Connell, a consultant microbiologist at the hospital, said an outbreak infection control committee had been convened. "Strict adherence to infection control precautions is being emphasised and staff are being screened this week," she said.
"All GPs in the region are being contacted to be on the alert and we are asking them to be particularly vigilant with infants who present at clinics with soft tissue infections."