Fungal outbreak at Sydney hospital linked to construction-related mould exposure
Consensus Summary
A fungal outbreak at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital’s transplant unit in late 2025 killed two patients and critically infected four others, with a hospital balcony near construction work identified as the likely source. Both sources confirm six transplant patients were diagnosed with aspergillosis between November and December 2025, and NSW Health’s report on May 2026 pinpointed the balcony—adjacent to a $900 million redevelopment—as the primary exposure risk. While both agree the mould spores became airborne during construction, ABC provides additional details like the patient’s prolonged hospital stay (150 days) before infection and the specific cause of the third death (sepsis-related). NEWSCOMAU omits the redevelopment cost and SAER referral process mentioned in ABC, and there are minor discrepancies in timelines for patient recovery or death. NSW Health has since implemented reforms, including air sampling and a fungal surveillance committee, following the report’s recommendations.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital’s transplant unit (Ward 9E) experienced a fungal outbreak in late 2025 linked to aspergillosis mould, killing two patients and seriously infecting four others
- A balcony near construction work was identified as the probable source of the mould exposure, accessible by all six infected patients
- Six transplant patients were diagnosed with aspergillosis between November and December 2025, with two deaths directly attributed to the infection
- Construction on the hospital’s $900 million redevelopment was occurring adjacent to the balcony during the outbreak
- NSW Health released a final report on Friday, May 2026, confirming the balcony and construction activities as the greatest exposure risk
- The outbreak led to reforms including increased air sampling and a fungal surveillance committee, with all four report recommendations accepted by health authorities
- One patient remains in intensive care four months after diagnosis, while a third infected patient later died from multi-organ failure due to sepsis (not directly from the fungal infection)
- The two deaths linked to the infection were referred for a Serious Adverse Event Review (SAER) by senior transplant specialists
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The fourth seriously ill patient remains in intensive care four months after diagnosis (no mention of timeline in ABC)
- No explicit mention of the $900 million redevelopment cost or the SAER referral process
- The third infected patient died from 'multi-organ failure due to sepsis associated with a skin condition' (not just sepsis alone)
- Explicit mention of the $900 million hospital redevelopment adjacent to the balcony
- Quote from Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive Deb Wilcox: 'The Aspergillus infection did impact on two patients directly who passed away'
- Detailed description of Aspergillus spores becoming airborne during construction and the failure to implement a fungi monitoring program
- Reference to the patient having spent 150 days in hospital prior to their liver transplant and diagnosis of 'disseminated aspergillosis'
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- NEWSCOMAU states the fourth patient remains in intensive care 'four months on' (May 2026), while ABC states the third patient died 'three months after being diagnosed' (implying a different timeline for recovery/death)
- NEWSCOMAU does not specify the cause of death for the third patient, whereas ABC clarifies it was 'multi-organ failure due to sepsis associated with a skin condition'
- ABC mentions the SAER review was conducted by senior transplant specialists and handed to Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant, while NEWSCOMAU does not reference this process
Source Articles
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