You may have read our previous coverage regarding the aspergillus infections acquired at Seattle Children’s Hospital. You may have also seen Tyler Goldberg-Hoss’s interviews related to the aspergillus cases. The hospital has made efforts to contain the fungus by updating their air filters. The problem, though, may be wider than the identified surgical suites.

Recent reports have come to light that at least one child acquired an aspergillus infection from an operating room not yet updated with the High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters. For now, not much information is available regarding this case or the filter in that operating room, as the hospital has identified the records as confidential, per the Health care quality improvement statute. This statute protects as confidential records related to hospitals’ quality improvement programs.

We know that an infant cardiac patient was operated on in October, 2019. The operation was done with the knowledge that the air filter in the OR had not yet been updated. The patient tested positive for aspergillus infection a month later.

Sadly, the otherwise sterling reputation of Seattle Children’s Hospital has suffered as a result of their handling of these infections. The tragic reality is that dozens of children have suffered devastating injuries and deaths because of inadequate air filters. Damage control continues at the hospital. More stories will no doubt unfold into the press as litigation progresses.

Read more from King 5 here: Seattle Children’s used OR without HEPA filter when infant got sick, documents say

Read our previous coverage here: Seattle Children’s Hospital Updating its Air Filtration to Address Airborne Fungal Infections, Fungus Prompts Closures of OR at Seattle Children’s Hospital