Two patients have died after contracting a fungal infection caused by pigeon droppings at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, Scotland, according to an article on the BBC website.
One infected patient died, but from an unrelated cause, according to hospital officials. Another infected patient has also died but the factors contributing to the death are still being investigated.
A small number of vulnerable pediatric and adult patients are receiving medication to protect them against the airborne infection, which is a Cryptococcus species.
A non-public room in the hospital is thought to contain machinery, was identified as a likely source. The hospital has taken steps to keep the pigeons from the room — and ultimately from the hospital's ventilation system.
The Role of Positive Distraction in Pediatric Design
Healthcare Waste is Fueling America's Debt
Prairie Lakes Healthcare System to Rebrand Following Sanford Health Merger
How Digital Technologies Are Reshaping Performance in Healthcare Facilities
The Role of Plumbing in Healthcare-Associated Infections