Cancer patients moved after dust exposure concerns

April 7, 2007

Last Update: Saturday, April 7, 2007. 8:20am (AEST)

ABC Online - Australia

Some cancer patients at the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) may have

been exposed to a deadly dust-borne mould.

Eighteen patients from the oncology ward had to be moved over the

past few days because someone tampered with a seal separating the

patients from building works, allowing dust in.

RHH's chief executive officer Craig White says the dust could carry

a pathogen which causes respiratory infections like pneumonia.

" Which is the reason we take special precautions to separate dust

from patients, " he said.

" That pathogen is called aspergillus and it can, in some patients,

lead to infection with the aspergillus which has to be treated.

" I'm not aware that any of our patients have been affected at all,

our clinical staff will be vigilant about that and undertake any

necessary treatment if it does happen.

" I'm very sorry that they had to be inconvenienced and I'm sure that

every effort was done to do it as smoothly as possible, but it was

important that any dust was removed because there is a known risk

associated with dust and building works. "

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