A Filipino baby who was born prematurely died in Italy late last June after being injected with artificial milk instead of medicine.

The June 29 death has triggered an investigation of the staff of the hospital where the baby died, radio dzBB reported Sunday.

Rome health authorities ordered the investigation after they learned of the death of the baby, named Marco.

A separate report on Yahoo News cited an Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) article indicating six staff members of the Rome hospital were investigated July 23.

The staff members at the San Giovanni hospital included doctors, nurses and auxiliaries, who were probed on why the baby was injected with artificial milk instead of saline solution.

The baby had been transferred to its neonatal unit from a hospital in Ostia, a seaside town where he was born.

IANS said Italian Health Minister Renato Balduzzi ordered an immediate investigation after the seven-month-old baby received the fatal injection.

Marco died June 29, two days after being injected. — LBG, GMA News