MOLD IN 20 HOSP ROOMS BLAMED IN KID DEATHS

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MOLD IN 20 HOSP ROOMS

BLAMED IN KID DEATHS

New York Post - New York,NY,USA

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/64957.htm

By DAVID HAFETZ and SUSAN EDELMAN

April 23, 2006 -- New York Presbyterian-Columbia detected low levels

of a potentially deadly mold in almost 20 rooms at its children's

hospital from 2001 to 2004, according to state records obtained by

The Post.

The test results released Friday showed traces of aspergillus, a

common mold often found in construction dust. While state health

officials said the low readings were not considered a threat to

patients, a lawyer contended aspergillus at any level can be lethal

to kids with weakened immune systems.

The revelation comes as three families prepare to sue the hospital

for allegedly causing the deaths of their sick children by exposure

to aspergillus.

A fourth family already has filed suit against Presbyterian and

contractor Bovis Lend Lease, alleging 5-year-old Grace died

in November 2002 of a lung infection caused by aspergillus. The

deaths of Blaise Fitzpatrick, 9; a Martucci, 4; and McKenzie

, 3, may also be linked to the mold.

When told of the hospital's test results showing the presence of

aspergillus, a lawyer for the families, F.X. ,

said, " You can't have that stuff there at any level. It means that

it's systemic . . . and spells unsafe construction practices. "

The findings also do not answer the questions of whether aspergillus

was present in rooms not sampled.

The hospital reported finding the aspergillus in air samples at its

Babies and Children's Hospital on 168th Street and Broadway during

construction of a children's hospital next door, the state Health

Department said.

The tests found two potentially dangerous strains of aspergillus -

niger and flavus - on the children's wards, but at levels that " did

not present a risk to patients in their care, " said Health

Department spokesman Kenny.

" Ideally, you never want to see the presence of any bacteria that

may present a risk to patients, " Kenny said.

But, he said, the hospital " was aggressive in its efforts to protect

patients. "

The state, responding to the four families' charges, launched

investigations last fall into the children's deaths. It later closed

the cases and has given Presbyterian a clean bill of health, Kenny

said.

Presbyterian spokesman Dotson would not discuss the patient

rooms found to have aspergillus.

david.hafetz@...