Outside expert will review Shands' internal fungal investigation

[Guest guest]

Outside expert will review Shands' internal fungal investigation

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20080203/NEWS/802030311/1002/NEWS

An outside expert in pediatric infectious disease has been chosen to

review the findings of an investigation into a cluster of fungal

infections that developed in a group of young cancer patients being

treated last summer and fall at Shands AGH.

Continue to 2nd paragraph Dr. R. Jarvis, who headed the

hospital infections program for the federal Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention for 17 years, has agreed to conduct an

outside review of Shands' internal study.

Up until 2002, Jarvis was responsible for investigating all

outbreaks of infection in health care settings. He helped develop

the CDC's guidelines for preventing hospital-based infections. He

currently serves as a private consultant in a number of areas,

including investigating outbreaks of pediatric and fungal infections.

In October, Shands released the results of an internal investigation

into a cluster of fungal infections that developed over a six-month

period in five immunosuppressed pediatric cancer patients being

treated at Shands AGH.

The assessment team was led by Dr. Lennox Archibald, University of

Florida epidemiologist, and Loretta Fauerbach, director of infection

control for Shands at the University of Florida.

In seeking the source of the infections, which involved four

different types of fungi, the team reviewed patient charts, examined

staff practices and the environment, and cultured air samples.

They also looked at randomly-selected patients who were hospitalized

at the same time as the youngsters who had gotten an infection, and

a group of immunosuppressed patients who had not been infected.

Based on those studies, Shands CEO Tim Goldfarb said, " These

patients' fungal infections were not linked to the building . . . to

an individual, equipment or supplies. "

The study looked at what the patients might have had in common,

beyond the fact that their natural immune systems had been severely

suppressed as part of the treatment they were undergoing.

" Some of the factors that may have made these patients more

susceptible include the presence of food allergies, the patient's

level of immunosuppression . . . and the types of drugs

administered, such as steroids and chemotherapy, that affect their

ability to fight infections, " UF infectious disease expert Dr.

Lawrence said in October.

Goldfarb promised at the time that an external review of the study's

methodology would be conducted " to instill public trust and

confidence. "

He says he is certain that Jarvis will confirm the findings of

Shands' own investigation.

" I am confident the results will substantiate our conclusions, but

we are going to close that loop, " Goldfarb said Thursday.

Diane Chun can be reached at 352-374-5041 or chund@...