Fungal infection outbreak at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital linked to hospital balcony and construction
Consensus Summary
A fungal outbreak at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in late 2025 infected six transplant patients in Ward 9E, with two deaths directly linked to aspergillosis and a third patient dying later from unrelated complications. NSW Healthâs investigation identified a hospital balcony near active construction as the probable source of airborne spores, citing the redevelopmentâs $900 million project as a contributing factor. The report, released on Friday, confirmed the balconyâaccessible to all infected patientsâposed the highest risk, though no single cause was conclusively proven. Health authorities accepted four recommendations, including enhanced air sampling and a fungal surveillance committee, while the two deaths were referred for further review. One patient remains critically ill four months after diagnosis, having undergone a liver transplant weeks prior. Families were given the opportunity to discuss findings with hospital management, and authorities acknowledged procedural failures, such as the lack of a fungi monitoring program.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Six transplant patients in Ward 9E at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital were diagnosed with aspergillosis mould infection in NovemberâDecember 2025
- Two patients died directly from the fungal infection, and a third infected patient died later from unrelated multi-organ failure due to sepsis
- A hospital balcony near ongoing construction works was identified as the probable source of the fungal spores, with airborne spores linked to construction activities
- NSW Healthâs final report found the balcony posed the greatest exposure risk, though no single conclusive cause was determined
- The hospitalâs $900 million redevelopment was underway adjacent to the balcony during the outbreak
- The NSW Health report was released on Friday, with recommendations including increased air sampling and a fungal surveillance committee
- One infected patient remains in intensive care four months after diagnosis, having spent 150 days in hospital prior to infection
- The two deaths linked to the fungal infection were referred for a Serious Adverse Event Review (SAER)
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive Deb Wilcox stated âwe will never absolutely know the cause [of death], it's not possible to do soâ
- The report mentioned a failure to implement a fungi monitoring program as an identified issue
- The third death was attributed to âmulti-organ failure due to sepsis associated with a skin conditionâ (not directly the fungal infection)
- The patient in ICU had a liver transplant in November 2025 and was diagnosed with âdisseminated aspergillosisâ in December 2025
- Four recommendations from the report were accepted by health authorities, including establishing a fungal surveillance committee
- The report revealed the fourth seriously ill patient remains in intensive care âfour months onâ (no mention of 150 days pre-infection)
- The article emphasized the affected families were given the chance to discuss findings with doctors and hospital management
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC states the third death was from âmulti-organ failure due to sepsis associated with a skin condition,â while NEWSCOMAU does not specify the cause of the third death
- ABC reports the patient in ICU spent 150 days in hospital prior to infection, but NEWSCOMAU does not mention this detail
- ABC includes a direct quote from Deb Wilcox about the impossibility of determining the exact cause of death, while NEWSCOMAU does not reference this quote
Source Articles
Balcony identified as likely mould infection site linked to patient deaths
A balcony at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital has been identified as the infection site of a mould cluster linked to two patient deaths late last year....
Cause of deadly hospital outbreak revealed
The cause of a deadly fungal hospital outbreak has been revealed, as one victim remains in intensive care months later....