Seattle Children's Hospital shuts down 11 operating rooms for a second time in a year over fears of MOLD in the air that was blamed for 1 death and 5 illnesses linked to the same rooms

  • Seattle Children's Hospital closed 11 operating rooms after a potentially dangerous fungus called Aspergillus was detected in the air on Sunday
  • The hospital shuttered all 14 operating theaters earlier this year after an outbreak of the same mold
  • In the outbreak, one patient died in 2018 and five were sickened - two in 2018 and three in 2019
  • At least 3,000 children had surgeries in the affected rooms, raising their risk of a fungal infection

Seattle Children's Hospital has been forced to close operating rooms for the second time in a year after air samples tested positive for mold in multiple areas.

Eleven operating theaters were shuttered after investigators ran routine tests on Sunday and found a potentially dangerous fungus called Aspergillus in the air in three operating rooms and two procedural rooms.

This is the same mold that killed one child and sickened five others at the hospital over the last two years.

'We are also investigating two new potential Aspergillus surgical site infections,' the hospital wrote in in statement. 

If those cases are confirmed, the patients would be the seventh and eighth infected at Seattle Children's, reported KING 5

The hospital says it plans to close all of its operating rooms, 14 in total, later this week. 

A potentially dangerous fungus that killed one patient and sickened five others was found again at Seattle Children's Hospital (pictured) on Sunday, forcing officials to close 11 operating rooms

A potentially dangerous fungus that killed one patient and sickened five others was found again at Seattle Children's Hospital (pictured) on Sunday, forcing officials to close 11 operating rooms

Aspergillus is a type of fungus commonly found in soil, dust and in the air, but the fungus can grow both indoors and outdoors.

The spores don't cause infection in most people, but they can lead to health problems in those with weakened immune systems or lung diseases.

Such health issues includes allergic reactions, lung infections, and infections in other organs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Aspergillosis, an infection caused by the fungus, is not a reportable infection in the US, but it is estimated to affect one to two per 100,000 people per year.

The fungus is associated with nosocomial infections, or infections originating within a hospital.

In May, Seattle Children's closed all 14 of its operating rooms after a year-long investigation detected Aspergillus in the facility.  

Officials said the mold was linked to the death of one patient in 2018 and the infections of five others - two last year and three this year.

At least 3,000 children had surgeries in the affected rooms, and administrators called families to tell them the kids may need to be monitored for infections.

For six wees following the May closures, surgeons either performed operations in other parts of the hospital or rescheduled them to different campuses.

The hospital reopened the rooms in July, saying the rooms had been fitted with new air vents that were free of the mold.

KING 5 reported that Seattle Children's has already closed 11 operating rooms, and plans to shut down its remaining three - leaving the hospital with no surgical facilities - later this week for an undetermined amount of time.  

'We are deeply sorry for the impact the air quality issues in our operating rooms continue to have on our patients and families,' a statement from the hospital read.

'Seattle Children's remains committed to doing what's right to keep our patients safe.' 

Patients and families with questions have been asked to contact the hospital's Patient and Family Relations team at 206-987-2550.

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