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Hospital-acquired Mold Infections May Come From Hospital Water Systems

Despite the increased use of special air filters that filter outside-air intakes, hospital patients are still experiencing increasing numbers of hospital-acquired mold infections. Previous reports have indicated that hospital water systems can colonize such molds says the April 1, 2003 issue of the journal Blood.

Researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences examined mold levels in various environmental samples from a bone marrow transplantation unit which uses the best air filtration protocols. 70% of 398 water samples, 22% of 1311 surface swabs and 83% of 264 indoor air samples harbored molds.

The airborne molds were at the highest concentrations in rooms where water was used a lot, such as bathrooms. The airborne mold strains closely resembled the ones present in the water systems.

The researchers suggest that providing patients with sterile water for drinking, sterile sponges for bathing and thoroughly cleaning shower room floors would be “an effective and inexpensive approach to prevent exposure to waterborne molds.”

Commentary: Goodness. We would certainly hope that hospitals wouldn’t need to be told to clean the shower floors. But you never know.

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