Fungal outbreak at Sydney hospital linked to construction-related mould exposure
Consensus Summary
A deadly fungal outbreak at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital’s transplant unit in late 2025 was linked to aspergillosis mould, with six patients infected—two dying directly from the infection and a third from unrelated complications. Both sources agree a balcony near ongoing construction was the probable source, as spores became airborne during a $900 million hospital redevelopment. NSW Health’s report, released in May 2025, confirmed the balcony’s role and identified failures in fungal monitoring, though it could not pinpoint a single cause for the deaths. While both articles highlight the severity of the outbreak—with one patient still in intensive care four months later—they differ on specifics like the third patient’s cause of death and the hospital’s pre-existing monitoring protocols. Health authorities have accepted reforms to prevent future incidents, including stricter air sampling and a fungal surveillance committee.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
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 in November–December 2025, with two deaths directly attributed to the infection and a third dying later from unrelated complications
- The outbreak occurred during a $900 million hospital redevelopment adjacent to the balcony, with construction activities likely making spores airborne
- NSW Health released a final report on Friday, May 2025, outlining the findings and recommending reforms including increased air sampling and a fungal surveillance committee
- The fourth infected patient remains in intensive care four months after diagnosis (as of May 2025)
- The two deaths were referred for a Serious Adverse Event Review (SAER) by senior transplant specialists
- Aspergillus is a spore-forming mould commonly found in soil, water, and decaying materials, posing elevated risks to immunocompromised patients
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The fourth seriously ill patient remains in intensive care four months after diagnosis (exact timeline not specified in ABC)
- No mention of the third death being unrelated to the fungal infection (only ABC specifies this)
- No reference to the $900 million redevelopment figure or the exact construction timeline
- No explicit mention of the SAER referral for the two deaths
- The third infected patient died from 'multi-organ failure due to sepsis associated with a skin condition,' not the fungal infection itself
- Construction was ongoing on the hospital’s $900 million redevelopment adjacent to the balcony during the outbreak
- One patient had spent 150 days in hospital prior to their liver transplant and infection with 'disseminated aspergillosis'
- The report identified a failure to implement a fungi monitoring program as a key issue
- All four recommendations from the report were accepted by health authorities, including establishing a fungal surveillance committee
- The third patient’s death was explicitly linked to sepsis from a skin condition, not the mould
- Deb Wilcox (Sydney Local Health District CEO) stated, 'We will never absolutely know the cause [of death], it's not possible to do so'
- The report was conducted by senior doctors specializing in transplants and handed to NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- NEWSCOMAU does not mention the third death being unrelated to the fungal infection, while ABC explicitly states it was due to 'multi-organ failure due to sepsis associated with a skin condition'
- ABC specifies the patient had spent 150 days in hospital prior to transplant and infection, but NEWSCOMAU omits this detail
- NEWSCOMAU does not mention the $900 million redevelopment figure or the exact construction timeline, which ABC includes
- ABC reports the third patient died three months after diagnosis, while NEWSCOMAU states the fourth patient remains in ICU four months after diagnosis (no direct contradiction but timeline ambiguity)
- NEWSCOMAU does not reference the SAER referral for the two deaths, which ABC explicitly mentions
Source Articles
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....
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....