Mold-Help.org - The world's largest TOXIC MOLD website
  • Mold Basics
    • Mold Overview
    • Mold Symptoms
    • Mold Types & Images
    • Fungal Infections
  • Resources and Tools
    • Home Care
    • Health & Diet
    • Tips for Parents
    • Coping with Loss
    • Private Research
    • Legal Suggestions
    • Mold in the Bible
  • Mold News
    • Current Headlines
    • “Sick Buildings”
    • The Environment
    • Construction Industry
    • Govt. & Politics
    • The Workplace
    • Landlords & Tenants
    • Insurance Companies
    • Schools & Institutions
    • Strange Fungal Tales
    • Personal Mold Stories
    • Additional Articles
  • Agencies & Experts
  • About Mold-Help
    • Mold-Help News
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Study: Hospital Water Spreads Mold Contamination

September 16, 2005/in "Sick Buildings" /by Contributor

Glasgow, Scotland – Hospital showers and taps could be a significant source of life-threatening fungus infections for patients with weakened immune systems, researchers reported Monday.Aspergillus, a toxic mold that has been linked to permanent and severe neurological, pathalogical, immunological and psychological health problems was discovered. Despite efforts to combat it with high-tech air filtration and the removal of potted plants, up to 15 percent of such patients still contract the bug. About half die from it. Anyone exposed to these toxins can become poisoned depending on length of exposure.

Now, scientists have traced aspergillus infection in patients to hospital taps and showers.

Experts say the findings, discussed at a conference of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, could explain some of the mysterious cases and offer hospitals new hope of preventing them.

“This is important because we now, for the first time, have a good scientific handle on the infection control of aspergillus in immune suppressed patients,” said Dr. Ian Gould, a clinical microbiologist at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in Scotland who was not connected with the research.

In the study, Dutch scientists examined the genetic makeup of about 100 aspergillus samples isolated from the air, water and patients in a hospital in Oslo, Norway. European physicians are generally much more educated and skilled at identifying fungal disease issues and the general consensus of the EU is to inform the public of severe health hazards such as this.  Their proactive approach has limited the horrendous cover-ups and problems that the US is sustaining due to their negligence and downplaying of this epidemic.

About 55 samples came from water — from showers, taps, the main pipe bringing water to the hospital, the water company treatment plant and the lake where the hospital water originated.

About 25 samples were taken from the air through accurate and qualified labs.

Twenty-one other samples were obtained from swabs or tissue samples taken from a total of 13 leukemia or transplant patients staying at the hospital.

The aspergillus samples from the water were genetically distinct from the air samples, and within each group the genetic makeup of the individual samples were about an 80 percent match with each other.

The researchers, from Nijmegen University, found that the aspergillus strains in nine of 13 patients were genetically similar to the water strains but not closely related to strains found in the air, indicating that water was the more likely source.

In one of those patients, where an autopsy confirmed the bug had invaded the lungs, the germ was genetically identical to a sample taken from the lake. In a second patient, the fungus was an identical match to a sample from the hospital’s main water pipe.

“It could be useful to identify whether a patient has a strain that originated from water or from air. In an outbreak you could pinpoint whether it came from water,” said one of the researchers, Dr. Paul Verweij.

Experts say showers are the easiest way to inhale water droplets in the fine spray.

“We’ve always thought that air was the most important source of aspergillus infection, and I think that is still true. But now the question is how dangerous is it if you want to take a shower?” Verweij said.

“Even if it’s not in the water pipes, is it in the shower head? There you have an interface between water and air and that’s where the mold likes to grow,” he said.

Baths do not pose the risk of aerosolizing the germ, he noted.

“You have to prevent that thing from being inhaled,” said another of the researchers, Dr. Andreas Voss.

Voss said hospitals that get their water from open sources such as reservoirs or water storage tanks are most vulnerable. The scientists examined the water from the hospital at their own institute and found no trace of the aspergillus; they believe that is because the water there comes from deep springs and wells, where it is not exposed to the air.

Contributor
Author: Contributor

Tags: WebMD, who receives millions of dollars from the pharmaceutical industry to sell their drugs online and dispute the truth on wellness. It's a scam, wai
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
https://www.mold-help.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/moldhelp-654x300.png 0 0 Contributor https://www.mold-help.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/moldhelp-654x300.png Contributor2005-09-16 00:56:242020-02-25 14:12:02Study: Hospital Water Spreads Mold Contamination
You might also like
Mold-Help logo Medical Websites - Mediocre Medicine at Its Best

Mold News

  • Current Headlines
  • "Sick Buildings"
  • The Environment
  • Construction Industry
  • Govt. & Politics
  • The Workplace
  • Landlords & Tenants
  • Insurance Companies
  • Schools & Institutions
  • Personal Mold Stories
  • Strange Fungal Tales
  • Additional Articles

Latest Posts

  • Michigan Family Finds Toxic Mold Inside Home
  • California Winter Storms: Water Damage and Mold Exposure Concerns in California
  • Office and Commercial Buildings at Risk for Mold after COVID-19 Closings
  • COVID-19 Symptoms May Include Loss of Taste and Smell
  • New Mold Detox Information on the Horizon
  • COVID-19 Courses of Action
  • Stachybotrys
  • Simple and Easy Ways to Prevent the Coronavirus
  • Your Air Conditioning Unit Helps Eliminate Mold
  • Construction Workers Are Learning to Control Dust and Debris

Search Our Site:

Need Help with Mold?

Are you being affected by mold or other mycotoxins in your environment? Our team and community has over 15 years experience and can provide guidance. You can reach us by submitting your contact or through our Facebook page.

Have a Story to Share?

We're looking for stories and input to expand our database and to add to the personal experiences we've received from the thousands of victims over the last 15. If mold has impacted your life, please take the time to share your story. Your information is confidential and will only be shared with your permission.

Seeking Mold Experts

Are you an expert in the treatment of mold-affected health illnesses, or a provider of services to victims of mycotoxin exposure? Submit your information for listing consideration in our Agencies & Experts resource database.

Additional Resources

  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
  • Glossary of Terms
  • Survivor Resources
  • General Inquiries
  • Legal Disclaimer

© Copyright - Mold-Help Organization
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Mold Basics
  • Resources and Tools
  • Agencies & Experts
  • Mold News
  • About Mold-Help
Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

OKLearn more

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Accept settingsHide notification only