Hospital in Washington Addresses Mold Infections, Deaths

Executives at a Washington state children’s hospital have found additional patient deaths from a mold infection after taking a closer look at their records.

Seattle Children’s CEO Jeff Sperring announced in late November that they looked at their history of Aspergillus infections and found that between 2001 and 2019, there were 14 infected patients, six of whom have died.

The Patnode family from Yakima says they sued the hospital in 2005 saying their 12-year-old daughter was exposed to mold while she was having brain tumor surgery.

Attorney John Layman says the family and hospital eventually settled the lawsuit.

Hospital officials say most of the operating rooms are expected to be closed until January as officials upgrade its air-filtration system.