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Two patients from the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital have died of a fungal infection badociated with pigeon droppings. Investigations are ongoing and control measures have been put in place to prevent other infections. ( pixabay )
Two patients from a Glasgow hospital have died after contracting a deadly fungal infection linked to pigeon droppings in a private room.
cryptococcal
It is thought that patients contracted the infection at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow after inhaling the Cryptococcus fungus, usually present in soil and pigeon poo.
Cryptococcal infection in humans may occur after inhalation of microscopic fungi. The infection, however, occurs rarely and most people exposed to the fungus do not get sick.
For those who become ill, however, the infection can be fatal although it can be treated with antifungal medications.
Hugh Pennington, of Aberdeen University, said people with weakened immune systems were particularly at risk.
"When it gets into the bloodstream, many people have relatively simple infections and get deposited in the lungs, but the big problem is that it can cause meningitis and, as we know, meningitis can be a very serious infection "said Pennington. I said.
Control measures
The NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), which runs the hospital, said the likely source of the pigeon droppings was a non-public room of the hospital containing machinery. The room has now been cleaned.
Control measures have also been put in place to prevent other infections. The NHSGGC said that patients vulnerable to infection were already receiving drugs to protect them from infection by air. Specific groups of patients have also been displaced within the hospital due to their condition and treatment.
Air filter units have also been installed in some parts of the hospital as an additional precaution.
Teresa Inkster, NHSGGC's senior consultant for infection control, said there had been no case of additional infection after the introduction of control measures.
"In the meantime, we continue to monitor air quality and these results are being badyzed," said Inkster.
Investigation in progress
An investigation is already underway. Health Secretary Jeane Freeman is scheduled to meet with NHS officials and clinical staff to discuss the incident and rebadure patients at the hospital.
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