HOSP BIGS EYED 'DEATH' FUNGUS

[Guest guest]

HOSP BIGS EYED 'DEATH' FUNGUS

By DAVID HAFETZ and SUSAN EDELMAN

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/54567.htm

October 2, 2005 -- New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia hired an

environmental consultant with expertise in battling a potentially

deadly fungus two months after the family of a 5-year-old patient —

who later died — said they were told the fungus was detected in

their daughter's room.

In a 2002 internal memo obtained by The Post, the hospital detailed

plans for the expert to address concerns about the risks posed by

the fungus, which is often found around construction sites. The

meeting came as the hospital was constructing a new wing at

Presbyterian next to the existing children's ward.

Five families have now come forward questioning whether hospital

conditions played a role in their children's respiratory-related

illnesses or deaths. The kids were all treated on the eighth, ninth

and 10th floors of Presbyterian's Babies and Children's Hospital

during construction of the Stanley Children's Hospital next

door.

In the 2002 memo, Presbyterian refers to a " problem " and invites

staff to a presentation by an environmental consultant it hired to

describe the risks associated with aspergillus, a common fungus

found in dirt and often linked to construction. The fungus can cause

fatal infections in patients with weak immune systems.

The memo is dated Jan. 31, 2002 — a month after a 3-year-old girl

died of acute respiratory distress. It was two months after a mother

says Presbyterian told her the fungus had been detected in her 5-

year-old daughter's room.

The 3-year-old, McKenzie , died in her mother's arms on

Christmas Eve 2001. Her parents are now questioning the cause of her

death.

Grace , 5, who was battling cancer, died in November 2002 of

respiratory failure related to an aspergillus infection, medical

records show. After the cases of the two girls were reported in The

Post last Sunday, three new families stepped forward with concerns

that their kids were exposed to a fungus or other contaminants

during construction on Presbyterian's new Stanley Children's

Hospital on Broadway at 165th Street.

F.X. , the lawyer representing the girls' families and

contacted by the others, said all five kids suffered similar

symptoms, including bad coughs. All stayed on the cancer, pediatric

and intensive-care units of Presbyterian's Babies and Children's

Hospital between 2000 and 2005.

Construction began in early 2001 on the Stanley building,

which opened in the fall of 2003. Work has continued into this year

to connect the old and new buildings.

Most of the five children had compromised immune systems and were at

high risk of developing infections, said. " Put them in a

fungus-infested area, and they're finished, " he said.

Myrna Manners, a Presbyterian spokeswoman, said the hospital follows

industry guidelines to protect patients and keep the building clean

during construction projects. " Despite the best medical care, some

seriously ill children cannot be saved, and our heartfelt sympathies

go out to every family who experiences such a loss, " she said.

The state Health Department said last week that it is looking into

three deaths cited by The Post and is reviewing Presbyterian's

infection-control measures.

In August, the state cited Presbyterian hospitals for failing to

detect and eradicate bacteria during a Legionnaires' disease

outbreak that sickened seven patients — including two who died. The

hospital also neglected to warn patients and visitors not to use the

tap water, the state found.

The parents of Grace and McKenzie have described filthy

conditions in their children's rooms, including dust, grime, food

particles, foul smells and stained walls.

Nurses confirmed that parents often complained and asked staff for

supplies to scrub their kids' rooms themselves.

In a lawsuit by the s against Presbyterian and Bovis Lend

Lease, the project manager for the Stanley building,

asked the hospital to disclose whether they found any rooms to be

contaminated with aspergillus. A judge recently rejected the

request, citing confidentiality laws.

The hospital had hired Streifel of the University of

Minnesota to discuss a " problem " with staff and lecture on " risks

associated with aspergillus in the healthcare environment " on Feb.

8, 2002, according to the memo The Post obtained.

Reached by The Post, Streifel, a mold expert, would not discuss

the " problem. "

" I'm sure they had infections, and they probably took the

appropriate steps to correct those problems, " Streifel said. " When I

came in, things already had started to get better. "

Streifel said he tested the hospital's air-filtering system, which

appeared to work well. He said he advised the hospital to keep

windows closed, train housekeeping staff, evaluate ventilation

systems regularly and use particle monitors to test air on floors.

said the families who have contacted him include the mother of

a boy who entered the hospital in 2000 with a gastrointestinal

illness. The mother told that her son developed a respiratory

illness during stays at Presbyterian and lost 40 percent of his lung

capacity. His breathing is now so impaired, said, he has

trouble walking across a room. The mother removed her son from

Presbyterian last week.

In another case, said, a 2-year-old girl with a disorder

affecting her kidney and liver developed a respiratory illness at

Presbyterian and was treated twice for pneumonia, which she

survived.

" The doctors couldn't explain why the respiratory problems were

appearing, " said.

In the final case, Kieran , a baby diagnosed with " failure to

thrive " disorder, was first brought to Presbyterian with breathing

difficulty and coughing spasms in April 2002.

Over the next 10 months, the Rockland County toddler was

hospitalized for weeks at a time. He died of a massive lung

infection — possibly pneumonia — that quickly worsened during his

last stay at Presbyterian, records show.

His parents, and Audrey , said doctors were baffled at

Kieran's death and wanted to perform an autopsy. Grief-stricken, the

parents declined.

But now they hope the state probe will shed light on Kieran's case

and others. " Hopefully, another family would never have to go

through the anguish we live with every day, " his mom said.

[Guest guest]

Reminds me of the " Dead Baby room " at a local hospital.

The nurses know about it, but can't talk to the doctors.

In fact one of the nurses told me " I'm sick, but I have to hide it

from the doctors or I'll lose my job " .

I just saw an advertisement from the AMA showing how wonderful doctors

are, and how the strive so hard to heal their patients.

I've worked with hundreds of doctors and I know they don't mean to be

oblivious and evil, but this strange mold paradigm shift is just

beyond their capacity to comprehend and respond to in a meaningful way.

But I perceive that the AMA had finally figured out that doctors

image is really startging to suffer for some reason and are trying to

address the matter.

Let's see if they can prescribe anything for the problem.

Like a dose of emphathy and understanding.

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