Mould blamed for hospital bug deaths
Six people who underwent heart surgery at an Edinburgh hospital contracted infections related to mould, the Scottish health secretary said.
Jeane Freeman told MSPS three different types of mould infection had been identified in the patients, with some of those affected having died.
Three different types of mould caused the hospital infection linked to the deaths of a number of heart surgery patients but the source has still not been found.
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, health secretary Jeane Freeman confirmed six patients had contracted rare fungal infections at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE).
Some have since died – but an exact number believed to be five or under has not been disclosed.
Ms Freeman said the infections had been caused by three different types of mould not normally found in the hospital environment.
These are: Lichtheimia corymbifera; Exophiala dermatitidis; and Aspergillus.
Four operating theatres were closed as a precaution to enable special decontamination procedures to take place, including deep-cleaning with hydrogen peroxide vapour. Two have since reopened, said Ms Freeman, and the remaining two would resume operations “as soon as possible”.
In a response to a question from Green MSP Andy Wightman, Ms Freeman confirmed that that the source of the infection has not been identified. “We continue to search for that,” she said.
All patients whose planned surgeries had been cancelled as a result have been rescheduled for surgery either this week or next, she added.
It emerged on 21 March that NHS Lothian had written to 186 patients who had undergone aortic valve surgery at the RIE during the previous six months to notify them of a “very low” potential risk from mould infections, and the symptoms to look out for.
The action was taken after six patients who had undergone cardiothoracic surgery at the RIE between March 2017 and November 2018 went on to develop an “unusual and difficult to treat” infection in their heart valves, which in some cases proved fatal. The health board stressed there have been no further known cases since November 2018.
Ms Freeman said we “need to accept that not all healthcare-associated infections are preventable”, but she has instructed NHS Scotland’s national clinical director, Prof Jason Leitch, to seek information and expertise internationally on whether any more can be done.
Alex Mcmahon , NHS Lothian infection control lead, said: “Scheduled heart valve replacement operations have resumed at the RIE following the completion of a rigorous programme of precautionary specialist cleaning and testing.
“Patients whose procedures were postponed have been given new appointments and they and all other patients receiving this procedure can be assured enhanced infection prevention and control measures are in place to ensure their safety.”