The Brief
- Seattle health officials and Harborview Medical Center are investigating a potential fungal infection outbreak after six patients tested positive for mucormycosis, a rare and drug-resistant infection.
- Mucormycosis affects the sinuses, lungs, brain, or stomach and is caused by molds common in the environment; it poses a risk to immunocompromised individuals and is treated with antifungal medication.
- Health officials, including the CDC, are working to identify the source of the cases, with Harborview implementing enhanced cleaning and infection control measures to prevent further cases.
SEATTLE – Seattle health officials and Harborview Medical Center staff are investigating the possibility of a fungal infection outbreak at the hospital, after six patients tested positive for mucormycosis.
According to the University of Washington School of Medicine, Harborview staff identified six patients since mid-June with the rare fungal infection, which is notable for being drug-resistant and not transmissible person-to-person.
Three of those patients are still in the hospital receiving antifungal medication.
What is mucormycosis?
What we know:…