East Ayrshire Cancer Ward Closure Follows Patient Mould Infections

An East Ayrshire hospital’s cancer ward is slated for closure following the detection of mould infections in several patients. These aspergillosis infections were identified at University Hospital Crosshouse in Kilmarnock earlier in the current year. The condition typically results from inhaling microscopic mould particles present in dust, bedding, moist structures, and air conditioning systems, alongside soil, plants, and trees. NHS Ayrshire and Arran stated that national reporting protocols had been adhered to, and an inquiry into the origin of the aspergillus mould was ongoing. In a distinct development, a limited number of patients were diagnosed with stenotrophomonas maltophilia infections, which is another bacterial type commonly found in hospital environments and can pose treatment challenges. The health board confirmed that this particular matter had been investigated and was no longer active. Manifestations of aspergillosis encompass breathlessness, coughing, wheezing, elevated body temperature, unintentional weight loss, and fatigue. The relocation plans for cancer patients at the Kilmarnock hospital, following the ward’s closure, remain undefined. According to Nurse director Jennifer Wilson, “NHS Ayrshire and Arran identified a very small number of patients with aspergillosis within a ward in University Hospital Crosshouse earlier this year.” “We notified Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection Scotland (ARHAI) of the incident in line with the national reporting requirements and are working closely with them.” “While we have taken measures to address the issue, in order to complete essential maintenance to the ward infrastructure, we are currently exploring alternative ward accommodation to allow these works to take place.” The BBC has inquired with the health board regarding the precise detection date of the infections and whether the mould was recorded on patients’ death certificates, a detail previously reported by The Herald newspaper. NHS Ayrshire and Arran stated that additional details, including the total number of affected patients, would not be disclosed. This development coincides with the ongoing Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, which is examining the construction of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) campus in Glasgow, encompassing the Royal Hospital for Children. The inquiry was established following several patient fatalities, among them 10-year-old cancer patient Milly Main. Evidence presented to the inquiry indicates that multiple cancer patients who passed away at the QEUH had tested positive for aspergillus.