CHS records third death after hemodialysis and family reports contamination; cause is investigated

Another patient in the hemodialysis sector at Conjunto Hospitalar de Sorocaba (CHS) was confirmed to have died, this time last Saturday (7). The causes of the three deaths were not disclosed, but possible contamination in the sector is being investigated by the Health Surveillance and the São Paulo State Department of Health (SES).

Two other people died after undergoing treatment in the ward. According to the ministry, the complaint is being investigated and the CHS management entity has already been contacted to adopt control and security measures.

The third death was confirmed to g1 by the victim's family, identified as Denise Lucimar Longhi, aged 56. According to family members, the woman suffered complications after being contaminated by reused water from the hemodialysis machine.

"A week ago I found out that she (Denise) was hospitalized, as it had been contaminated with reused water from the hemodialysis machine, and that she and five other patients suffered tremors and discomfort. The doctor said that, when removing the catheters, for minutes, an infection rose in my sister's brain. They carried out all the procedures and placed her in an induced coma, a few days later she was intubated and she never woke up. She was swollen and had spasms opening and closing her eyes", he reported Antonia Longhi, Denise's sister.

Antonia also states that the family must go to court to understand the reason for her sister's death, for which the report has not yet been released. She was buried in Votorantim (SP), in the São João Batista cemetery, on Sunday afternoon (8).

The São Paulo State Department of Health investigates the report of the third death and clarifies that there is no record of new suspected cases related to the occurrence in the hemodialysis sector.

"The investigations are ongoing and include investigating the circumstances of the deaths mentioned. The ministry will take all appropriate measures after the investigation is concluded."

According to complaints received by the Sorocaba City Council, patients on the third hemodialysis shift presented tremors and symptoms compatible with bacteremia during or shortly after the sessions at the CHS.

The main hypothesis raised by professionals in the sector points to a failure in the reprocessing of dialyzers or contamination of the water used in the procedure.

Given the seriousness of the facts, the letter sent to Health Surveillance requests the immediate collection of samples of water and sanitizing products in use at the hospital.

The document also requests the verification of reprocessing records and the conservation of medical records and isolated bacterial strains for subsequent analysis and expertise.

A civil investigation was also opened at the Public Ministry of São Paulo (MP-SP) and is underway at the Regional Public Prosecutor's Office for Social Rights of Sorocaba (Public Health).

The action investigates problems at the Sorocaba Hospital Complex, and negotiations to adjust conduct with the State Department of Health and Seconci, in relation to the insufficient nursing, physiotherapy and cleaning teams, replacement of elevators and complete renovation of the roof, are ongoing.

"If there is no agreement, a public civil action will be filed. Regarding the episode involving patients who would have had complications during or after the hemodialysis session, on October 19, 2026, with reports of hospitalizations and deaths, the facts are being investigated. In this sense, information and measures were requested from SECONCI-SP and Health Surveillance", says the MP.