Mould Infections Close Operating Rooms at Montreal Hospital

(Accompanying Story - Pen #7)

The threat posed by mould growth in hospitals became national news earlier this year when airborne mould and Aspergillus infections closed down most of the operating rooms at Montreal’s Royal Victoria hospital. The hospitals main OR block was closed in February after air testing indicated Aspergillus contamination in the 40 year-old air handling units serving these rooms. The operating rooms returned to service on July 3, four months after they were closed. About one million dollars was spent to replace the ventilation system and upgrade other mechanical services.

Two patients operated on in these rooms in the previous six months were known to have acquired Aspergillus infections, and one has since died. Doctors will follow up hundreds of patients who underwent surgery at Royal Victoria in the previous six months to determine if any were infected by the fungus. If these cases are confirmed as an outbreak related to fungal contamination, they would not be the first at the Royal Victoria. In an article published in 1996, researchers at the hospital reported on a cluster of Aspergillosis cases in a cancer ward between 1989 and 1992, likely related to demolition of an older structure and construction of an addition over that time. In that outbreak, 28 suspected cases were observed. Of those, seven were classified as definitely Aspergillosis, and the remainder as probable or possible.

This fall the Montreal Regional Health Board will approve a set of infection prevention guidelines to be built into every tender call for renovations in Montreal’s network of hospitals.

In a related story carried by CBC Radio in July, at least seven families say they will sue the Royal Victoria Hospital over the outbreak of Aspergillus infection.

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