Mold is a potentially lethal risk for organ transplant patients that is largely ignored.
The residences that patients return home to after their organ transplant are almost never checked for mold. Let's face it. .....transplant patients are usually very sick before the life saving surgery. Home maintenance, roof leaks, plumbing leaks, and basement issues are not a high priority when the life of a family member is at stake. Even when these problems are noticed, the money it takes to have repairs is often in very short supply and life and death medical costs come first!
Organ transplant patients have new opportunities for a healthy and full life. However, the anti-rejection medication that helps accept new organs by lowering the body’s immune system response also creates a very high risk for fungal infections caused by mold exposures.
Hospitals are on "high alert" to create a "mold free environment". On failure to maintain that environment in UPMC Pittsburgh resulted a temporary shutdown of world class and renowned transplant center.
The CDC states "Fungal infections may be more common in certain types of transplants. Some experts think that fungal infections may be most common in small bowel transplant patients, followed by lung, liver, and heart transplant patients."
Mold at very low levels or in hidden areas are a huge risk for patients. Whether it is returning home after an organ transplant or moving into a new or temporary home after the transplant, having a professional familiar with medical grade evaluations for mold are an important part of successful outcomes.
For more information on protecting patients from mold after an Organ Transplant, go to our article with many links to supporting information at https://www.envirospect.com/OrganTransplant
This story starts with a second story window, split open window sill and spaces between the brick openings. These had gone unnoticed before we arrived.
It appeared that the dining room window was the source of a leak. The actual leak was in a second story window above the dining room. The people who first looked at the dining room mold problem had wrongly assumed that the leak was caused by the dining room window. It is experience and proper training that teaches us to look at all of the possible sources of leakage above a leak.
(Rule #27: Water goes down-hill and always consider additional possible
sources/causes above a leak).
The homeowner said that water poured through the dining room wall in driving rains. He had he water stains, wet drywall and mold to prove the point. The paper face that is part of the drywall in the room was great food for mold, as was the wood framing inside of the wall.
By the way, there was visible mold. It was that fuzzy green mold that is typical of bread that has spent about a week too long in the bread drawer. The call was about the mold and remediation.
There is a very important part of this story that I have not told you yet. One of the homeowners is an organ transplant recipient. What most people don’t know is that patients on immunosuppression therapy (anti organ rejection drugs) are very susceptible to potentially fatal mold health complications.
Mold exposure is a big deal in hospitals, but many people are just not aware of the issue. If you think back, you probably remember that mold deaths from hospital mold exposure in organ transplant patients has made the national news. In fact, some of those deaths have recently resulted in multi-million dollar settlements from hospitals to families of patients who have died from hospital acquired mold exposures.
Here is What We Know So Far:
This is What Needs Done:
When it is important……Especially, when it is “life or death” important… (but from our perspective the health of all of our clients is important) …………..you need to call experts trained in the science of environmental exposures who know the right path forward. You need and deserve and to have professionals that understand the issues and can get you to a healthy environment. Go to our website www.Envirospect.com for more information or to arrange an assessment of your home.
(Rule #27: Water goes down-hill and always consider additional possible sources/causes above a leak).
· Mold is very bad for organ transplant patients
· Water leaks cause mold
· Even if you clean the mold, it can (will) return if the leak is not resolved
It would have been the typical procedure of some remediators to clean the mold. Then they would get to another job down the road to come clean the mold again.
Test for the amount and type of mold (it is critical to know the risk to transplant patient and others in the home)
Locate the cause of the water intrusion
Clean the mold
Test to make sure the mold is clean. (Mold can be in hidden areas)
When it is important……Especially, when it is “life or death” important… (but from our perspective the health of all of our clients is important) …………..you need to call experts trained in the science of environmental exposures who know the right path forward. You need and deserve and to have professionals that understand the issues and can get you to a healthy environment.
The fourth lawsuit was filed in the deaths of patients from mold exposure. Two of the cases have settled already for 1.3 million each. Another case is pending in addition to this new case.
You may need a brief history. It was back in September of 2015 that the entire UPMC Transplant Program was shut down as mold was discovered in a specialized area of the hospital for transplant patients….and…. the mold was, more importantly inside of the patients.
This is a world renowned program with reportedly a waiting list of over 1,000 patients. This was a BIG deal. A “life and death” deal.
That background makes the story you read and hear in the news both interesting and scary. It is not the REAL story here. The real story is that transplant patients are at a very high risk of serious infection particularly for 6 months after receiving the transplant.
IT IS AMAZING THAT PATIENTS BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL ARE NOT USUALLY TOLD TO GET THEIR HOMES CHECKED FOR MOLD …………AND IF NEEDED ……………TREATED FOR MOLD BEFORE THEY COME HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL.
If mold exposure can be a cause of death in a hospital, it can be a cause of death anywhere a patient may go.
If you have someone you care about with the modern day miracle of an organ transplant, have the home or other place they spent time checked to assure the mold level is safe in the area.
This story goes beyond organ transplant patients. Those patients on chemotherapy, auto-immune disease, elderly, very young, and many other at risk patients can become seriously ill as a result of mold exposure.
For a full article with more information on organ transplant and other immunosuppressed patients and mold exposure go to: https://goo.gl/RKnhZh