The presence of Aspergillus fungus has forced close an operating room in it Mataro Hospital (Barcelona), as reported by ‘Crónica Global’ and confirmed by EL PERIÓDICO. The fungus, responsible for an infection called aspergillosishas been found during a “routine control of a surgical block” and, in addition, it has also been detected in a superficial wound of a patient, which is fine and today he has been discharged, sources from the Department of Health report.
Hospital denies there is an outbreak of ‘Aspergillus’ in its vicinity, but insists that it is a isolated case detected “two or three days ago”. The health center carried out the protocol that applies in these cases and initiated a exhaustive cleaning and disinfection of the operating room, which remains temporarily closed these days.
The doctors detected Aspergillosis infection in a superficial wound of a patient who had undergone surgery at the hospital. According to Health, “It has not been possible to confirm that the nosocomial infection”, that is, that the patient has been infected within the hospital.
According to the ‘conselleria’, the operating room will reopen when new controls (microbiological cultures) give negative results. “Meanwhile, surgical activity has practically not been affected and most interventions are being carried out in other operating rooms of the center”, say sources from the department of the hospital itself.
What is the fungus ‘Arpergillus’?
Aspergillosis is an infection caused by ‘Aspergillus’, a type of mold (fungus) common than lives in indoor and outdoor environments. Most people breathe in Aspergillus spores every day without getting sick. However, people with weakened immune system or with lung diseases are in higher risk of presenting health problems due to ‘Aspergillus’. The types of health problems caused by ‘Aspergillus’ include allergic reactions and infections in the lungs and other organs, according to the CDC (the American public health agency).
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The incidence of aspergillosis is difficult to determine, since it is not a notifiable infection. It is estimated that they occur more than 10,000 annual hospitalizations related to aspergillus infections in the United States, which cause more than 1,900 deaths.
The infections associated with fungal health care have increased in recent decades, and aspergillus outbreaks have been associated with health care especially dangerous for immunocompromised patients and those with chronic pulmonary conditions such as cystic fibrosis and asthma. It has been reported a mortality up to 60% in aspergillus infections in high-risk hematology patients, according to the CDC.