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 illened four others, with a balcony near active construction identified as the likely source. Both articles confirm six transplant patients were infected with aspergillosis between November and December 2025, though ABC clarifies one death was unrelated to the mould. The outbreak occurred during a $900 million hospital redevelopment, where construction activities likely dispersed airborne spores. NSW Health’s final report, released in May 2025, pinpoints the balcony as the highest-risk exposure site and introduces reforms like air sampling and fungal surveillance. While both sources agree on the balcony’s role, ABC provides additional technical details—such as the third patient’s death from sepsis—and highlights systemic failures in monitoring, whereas NEWSCOMAU focuses on patient outcomes and family communications. The investigation remains inconclusive on direct causes of death, with NSW Health referring cases to a Serious Adverse Event Review.
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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 in November–December 2025, with two deaths directly attributed to the infection and a third patient remaining in intensive care for months
- The outbreak occurred during a $900 million hospital redevelopment adjacent to the balcony, with construction activities likely causing spores to become 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 two deaths linked to the infection have been referred for a Serious Adverse Event Review (SAER) by NSW Health
- The infected patients were immunocompromised, including one who had spent 150 days in hospital prior to a liver transplant in November 2025
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The fourth seriously ill patient remains in intensive care four months after diagnosis (as of May 2025)
- Affected families were given the chance to discuss findings with doctors and hospital management
- A third infected patient later died from 'multi-organ failure due to sepsis associated with a skin condition,' not the fungal infection itself
- The report found a failure to implement a fungi monitoring program, with all four recommendations accepted by health authorities
- Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive Deb Wilcox stated, 'We will never absolutely know the cause [of death], it's not possible to do so'
- The construction site was part of a $900 million redevelopment, with spores becoming airborne during works
- The report was conducted by senior transplant specialists and handed to NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- NEWSCOMAU states the fourth patient remains in intensive care four months after diagnosis, while ABC says the third patient died from unrelated complications and only one patient remains in ICU
- ABC specifies the third death was from 'multi-organ failure due to sepsis associated with a skin condition,' but NEWSCOMAU does not mention this distinction
- NEWSCOMAU does not provide details about the SAER referral for the two deaths, which ABC explicitly states was conducted
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....