One child remains in hospital almost five months after seven people were struck down with E. coli O157 at the Rose Lodge Nursery in Aberdeenshire in May.

The mother of the 22-month-old boy still hospitalized who has lost his sight, has severe hearing loss, complete kidney failure and partial brain damage, said through her solicitor “the report does not answer anything for her.

“The mother has been permanently residing in the hospital complex to care and attend to the child and is at the hospital from about morning until late evening seven days a week.

“She specifically wants the public reminded about how aggressive E. coli 0157 can be.

“She believes that she and the child have been forgotten about and that she is very angry about that.”

The report by NHS Grampian on the outbreak yesterday revealed that one of the possible reasons for the spread of the infection was staff failing to wash their hands properly after handling nappies.

However, the report said that the bug could have been passed on through private drinking water contaminated with animal feces from nearby fields, or due to issues with hand hygiene at a relative’s home.

The bug originated in the baby unit of the Aboyne nursery, which cares for 35 children. Four infants, one relative and two members of staff were all struck down with E coli O157.

The report advised the nursery to stop the use of a communal bowl for handwashing in the baby room and said the water at a sink in the nappy-changing area might have been too hot for effective handwashing. It also warned staff of the potential for contamination of the nursery floor from parents’ shoes.

An NHS Grampian spokesman said: “If the parents require any further clarificiation, they should contact the health protection team. We will be happy to meet them to discuss their concerns.”

A communal handwashing bowl when surrounded by poop – baby poop? If I was a parent taking my kid to that daycare, I would have said something. I know the parents and staff hate me at Sorenne’s school for being such a microbiological stickler, but this is why people have to speak up – before there’s an outbreak.