Hospital taps may be spreading deadly infections
Hospital showers and taps could be a significant source of life-threatening fungus infections for patients with weakened immune systems, new research has shown.
Aspergillus, a toxic mould, is a well-known hazard for leukaemia and transplant patients, but despite efforts to combat it with hi-tech air filtration and the removal of potted plants, up to 15% of such patients still contract the bug. About half of them die from it.
Now, for the first time, scientists have traced aspergillus infection in patients to hospital taps and showers.
Experts say the latest findings, discussed yesterday at a conference of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, could explain some of the mysterious cases and offer hospitals new hope of preventing them.
"This is important because we now, for the first time, have a good scientific handle on the infection control of aspergillus in immune-suppressed patients," said Dr Ian Gould, a clinical microbiologist at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary who was not connected with the research.