Girl, 2, with life-threatening dual infection is turned away as pediatric hospitals run out of lifesaving equipment

When Taryn Bennion brought her two-year-old daughter to their local hospital, she was turned away because the facility didn’t have anymore room for sick children. 

Doctors at the hospital in St George, Utah told Ms Bennion that Penelope would need to be airlifted to another facility because they also didn’t have the life-saving equipment the girl needed.

From the hospital, Penelope, who her family calls Nelly, was life-flighted on February 2, her second birthday, to Intermountain Primary Children’s in Lehi, Utah, where she had to be intubated due to severe cases of simultaneous RSV and Covid.

Mrs Bennion saying: ‘Little miss was working her body so hard just breathe.’ 

Nelly, who remained intubated and sedated for two days, is on the mend, but doctors are warning other children could be at similar risk.  

Dr Nathan Money, a pediatric hospitalist at Intermountain Primary Children’s, said: ‘Many hospitals that are adult hospitals with pediatric units within them, do not have pediatric intensivists that are staffed within them at that hospital.

‘So, they can support children with respiratory diseases up to a certain degree, but when it gets to the point of needing intensive care, like positive pressure or putting in a tube and breathing for the child, that requires very specialized care and equipment.’

The US is in the midst of multiple viral surges, including Covid, RSV, flu, and norovirus (often called the stomach bug). The rise in cases of typically seasonal RSV and flu hit earlier than usual this year, with more children showing up to hospitals with coinfections.

Now, clinics and even large health centers are hitting capacity and running short of life-saving medical equipment, specifically for children.

Mrs Bennion was told at the hospital in their hometown of St George, ‘“’Well we don’t have any beds in Salt Lake, but we have six beds available in Lehi”‘

RSV can be fatal to toddlers two and under, though it is rare. But when combined with Covid, the risk of severe illness is higher, putting more strain on the lungs and the immune system. 

Both RSV and Covid can cause inflammation of the airways and raise the risk of pneumonia and bronchiolitis.  

Mrs Bennion said: ‘It is kind of concerning just knowing that the equipment isn’t here.

‘If it had been any worse, if it had started affecting her sooner, or if I didn’t catch it in time, then it’s a very real possibility that she could’ve died.’

Utah has the third-lowest number of hospital beds in the nation, spelling trouble for the ongoing ‘quademic,’ as more and more fill up.

According to data from The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the US Census Bureau, the state has approximately 190 hospital beds per 100,000 people, covering various types of care, from post-surgery recovery to overnight stays and critical care.

The national average is about 240 per 100,000 residents.  

Mrs Bennion was told at the hospital in their hometown that there were no beds, but a hospital in Lehi 275 miles away had six.  

The problem isn’t unique to Utah, though. Hospitals nationwide are experiencing shortages of necessary equipment.  

Nelly is resting at home. She was sedated and intubated for two days, from Feb 2 to Feb 4. Her mother said she’s doing well

As of December 2024, there is a nationwide shortage of oxygenator devices used for long-term circulatory support, specifically those intended for extracorporeal circulation (ECMO), first reported on September 11, 2023, and reconfirmed on October 2, 2024.

An ECMO is a life-sustaining machine to help patients with severe lung or heart failure. It provides oxygen to the blood and removes carbon dioxide and is often used in cases of severe pneumonia, which can result from severe respiratory infections.

Not having an ECMO available can be life-threatening. It’s often the last resort when doctors have tried other treatments and medications. 

Medical device shortages are a significant public health concern, especially in times of crises.

From 2010 to 2019, there were about five ongoing medical device shortages each year.

This number increased fourfold in the first half of 2020 due to the higher demand caused by Covid, with shortages of ventilators becoming especially concerning.

While manufacturers are not required to inform the FDA about shortages, as of July 5, 2024, the FDA listed five types of medical devices that are still in short supply.

These include devices for heart monitoring and emergencies, such as automated external defibrillators and oxygenators. Two of these shortages started in 2023, and three began in 2022.

The pandemic revealed kinks in the global supply chain, leading to disruptions in production and delivery of medical devices. 

Components of equipment, such as sensors and microchips, can face supply constraints, especially when produced overseas. Manufacturers also may have trouble hiring and retaining qualified workers. 

Temporary plant closures or sterilization concerns can also hold up production and delivery nationwide. 

The strained system could prove dangerous amid the ongoing viral surge.

For the week ending February 1, Covid accounted for about one percent of hospital visits, a number relatively unchanged for the past four weeks. The virus was responsible for 400 deaths – down from 660 the week prior. 

According to CDC data, RSV has been responsible for 2million to 4million doctors visits, up to 230,000 hospitalizations and up to 14,000 deaths during the 2024 to 2025 season.

In the US, RSV is responsible for approximately 100 to 300 deaths in children under 5. 

Meanwhile, the US is facing its most intense flu season in 15 years. So far this season, according to the CDC, there have been at least 24 million flu infections, 310,000 hospitalizations and 13,000 deaths — including at least 57 children. 

Last week, 43 states experienced high or very high levels of flu activity, with the highest intensity observed in the South, Southwest, and Western regions. 

Flu season typically peaks around February. 

Mrs Bennion [left] expressed concern about the lack of equipment, saying it was worrying to know it wasn’t available. She added that if her child’s condition had worsened sooner or if she hadn’t caught it in time, there was a real possibility she could have died

The fallibility of the national supply of medical devices became evident during the Covid pandemic, with private companies having to pick up the slack when the national stockpile diminished.

It took an act of Congress – with the Defense Production Act – to direct companies to produce the equipment needed to respond to the crisis.

Natural disasters also impede hospitals’ ability to save lives. Hurricane Helene pummeled North Carolina and beyond, causing a massive shortage of IV fluid. 

Hospitals had to delay surgeries and rethink their priorities regarding the precious commodity.

As of February 4, Nelly is off the ventilator and is breathing on her own.

‘She is finally getting some mommy snuggles and is doing so much better,’ her mother said.