New rules ahead for mold reporting at Seattle hospitals

Public Health Seattle and King County says it will begin tracking aspergillus mold infections in hospitals more closely.

The change comes amid revelations of an ongoing aspergillus mold problem at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Fourteen patients have contracted infections since 2001; six have died.

Public Health’s Dr. Jeff Duchin announced the change today.

“This could help ensure that all healthcare facilities are tracking and reporting these infections in a standardized way and provide an estimate of the burden of this condition,” Duchin said.

He said that Children’s did appropriately report the most recent infections.

Duchin said he’ll convene a working group of local, state and national experts to determine the most helpful way to track mold infections.

Duchin told King county board of health Thursday that nationally 1 in 30 hospital patients a day acquire a healthcare associated infection.