Three women who had liposuction at a Maryland cosmetic surgery center were admitted to hospital with internal group A Streptococcus infections — and one died as a result of the bacterial spread, according to the Associated Press. The infections began occurring in mid-August, and state health officials shut the Monarch MedSpa in Timonium, Md., on Wednesday, citing "probable deviations from standard infection control practices," says the Washington Post

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will continue looking into "the possible sources of infection … to limit further spread" of the bacteria, which has a 10% to 15% mortality rate. The victims are not being named for privacy reasons, but the infection control department at the University of Maryland noted that they'd all been patients at the same facility, and notified health officials, according to reports.

In a statement released to local television news station WJZ, Monarch Medspa said, "The suspected infections are a new development and their possible origins are being carefully investigated." There's no state licensure requirement for cosmetic surgery centres in Maryland. In addition to the Timonium location, Monarch MedSpa owns 3 centers in Pennsylvania and 1 in Delaware.

Stephanie Wasek