Second transplant patient at Prince Charles Hospital dies from fungal infection

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman has addressed a deadly fungal infection cluster at a major Brisbane hospital that has killed two patients.

Mr Retmock's wife told 7News she would like the other families still involved to be better communicated with. Picture: 7News

A second patient has died from a deadly infection cluster at The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane.

Adam Retmock, 45, had received a lifesaving heart transplant six weeks ago at The Prince Charles before falling ill from a fungal infection, according to 7 News.

Despite numerous operations and treatments in hopes to clear the infection, Mr Retmock died on Friday.

“My understanding is if he hadn’t had contracted this infection, he would still be here,” his wife Kelly Richards told Seven.

“That last week of his life could have been so much better.”

Seven reported Mr Retmock was one of a cluster of five Prince Charles transplant patients diagnosed with fungal infections, and the second person to die from complications.

Four of the five patients in this cluster went home, however Mr Retmock did not leave the hospital.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman.

High fungal readings were discovered in the area used to store equipment for organ donor retrievals and transplants put on hold while the equipment was replaced.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said it was “absolutely not acceptable” patients at the Prince Charles were only alerted to a deadly fungal infection at the hospital from watching the nightly news.

She said the head of the transplant unit had assured her he had spoken directly with patients in the unit about the cluster, “and if that has not happened then I want to again really apologise”.

“I have reiterated to the chief executive that when these fungal infections were detected that there needed to be immediate communication with family,” Ms Fentiman said.

The Health Minister now acknowledged that hadn’t occurred in one specific case and said “I have been advised that no link has been found between his fungal infection and the fungal infection of the hospital”.

Ms Fentiman said there were a number of different fungal infections that had been identified.

“These are some of the most vulnerable patients in our hospital system and they are prone to a number of infections,” she said.

The Metro North Hospital and Health Service in a statement offered condolences to Mr Retmock’s family.

“This patient was identified as one of five patients with a fungal,” the statement read.

According to the Metro North Hospital and Health Service, no link has been established between the fungal infection identified in Mr Retmock and the hospital.

Three transplant patients remain in the care of The Prince Charles Hospital after testing positive to a fungal infection.

A review of their cases is in the early stages.