Prince Charles Hospital transplant patients warned to mask up near work site after deaths

Vulnerable patients have been warned to wear masks near a controversial northside construction site after it was identified as a likely source of a deadly fungal outbreak.

Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard on Wednesday. Picture: John Gass

Sources at a major Brisbane Hospital have revealed vulnerable patients were warned to wear masks near a controversial northside construction site after it was identified as a likely source of a deadly fungal outbreak.

Infectious diseases experts at The Prince Charles and St Vincent’s Private hospitals on Wednesday, November 15, advised clinicians with transplant or cancer patients to warn them about the risk of fungal spores from the carpark and extension works.

Later that day the hospital’s executive emailed official advice to doctors that the recommendation of their infectious diseases specialists was immunocompromised patients should wear masks as soon as they got out of their cars for consultations or treatment.

Doctors were also advised to tell their patients to wear masks if walking past the work site.

“The oncologists and haematologists at the St Vincents Private have unilaterally decided to advise at risk patients to wear a mask when in the grounds and certainly within the vicinity of the earth works,’’ a clinician said.

They said the “general consensus’’ of the infectious diseases and transplant specialists was that disturbed earth at the carpark site was “likely’’ the cause of the outbreak.

Queensland Health Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard. Picture: John Gass

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman has ordered a review and air monitoring is now taking place.

Channel 7 last night, November 15, aired a report saying whistleblowers claimed there were concerns about cleaning practices in transplant surgical and storage areas.

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard, an infectious disease expert, said major construction work was a common source of fungal clusters in transplant units and confirmed the works happening to build a new carpark was being investigated.

“It’s certainly one of the things that’s being investigated,” he said.

“These fungi exist in the environment all around us in the natural environment, so trying to work out where individual patients get their infection from is notoriously difficult.”

Dr Gerrard also confirmed the cleaning practices at the transplant unit was being reviewed and sampling undertaken as part of the “very active investigation”.

So far two transplant patients have died, although one was believed not to be connected with the fungal infection at Prince Charles.

Construction work at Prince Charles Hospital has been identified as a possible source of a deadly fungal outbreak in transplant patients. Picture: David Clark

The construction work has been highly controversial as it involved the bulldozing of part of the Benekes Bushland.

The reserve was protected under a conservation lease, but that was revoked by the State Government to allow an access way for heavy machinery.

Three types of aspergillus fungus and a leptospirosis bacterial strain were believed to be involved in the outbreak.

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.

The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne had to completely rebuild its transplant unit in the early 2000s after years of mysterious fungal infections, with earthworks near that hospital identified as a possible cause.

Dr Muhammad Hussain has been identified as the first patient involved in the deadly fungal cluster at Prince Charles Hospital to have died. Picture: Supplied

A Metro North Health spokesman said the hospital had a dedicated team of transplant and infectious diseases specialist staff working to ensure that any potential source of fungal infection was identified and removed.

“To date there has been no conclusive link established between the identified fungal infections and the hospital,’’ he said.

“Fungi, like the ones patients at The Prince Charles Hospital acquired, are ever present in the community.

“They are in homes, workplaces, common areas and transplant patients are at high risk if exposed to these infections because their immunity is compromised.

“As part of the transplant process and ongoing care transplant patients are supported to take precautions to minimise risks.

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

“In 2022, seven patients had a heart transplant, 26 patients had a lung transplant and one patient had a heart-lung transplant.

“In 2023 to date, 12 patients have had a heart transplant and 22 patients have had a lung transplant.’’

Construction union the CFMEU was unaware of the issue but declined to comment further, referring questions to builder Multiplex.

Its workers were not on site on Wednesday, November 15, as they were attending a safety rally in the CBD.

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.

Beloved Brisbane GP and father-of-three Dr Muhammad Hussain, 55, has been identified as the first victim involved in the deadly fungal cluster.

He received a lifesaving heart transplant at the Prince Charles in May before falling ill and going in and out of hospital for months, eventually testing positive for a fungal infection.

He died in hospital on September 20, leaving behind his family and the medical practice he had set up in Mango Hill.

A second patient, Adam Retmock, 45, died last Friday after receiving a lifesaving heart transplant six weeks ago at The Prince Charles before falling ill from a fungal infection, according to 7 News.