UPMC: Transplant Operations To Resume Immediately

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Officials with UPMC say they are resuming operations of their organ transplant program after a mold problem forced them to suspend it earlier this month.

According to UPMC, the decision was made after an internal and external review of procedures and treatments by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the CDC and the hospital's own staff.

In a press release, UPMC Chief of Medical and Scientific Officer Dr. Steven Shapiro said: "We are grateful for the careful scrutiny, review and for the expertise and support of our colleagues. We have patients being transferred now from southern and central Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Virginia for life-saving organ transplants to be performed at UPMC."

UPMC, earlier this month, confirmed the deaths of three transplant patients who had fungal infections. They also said a fourth transplant patient was fighting a fungal infection, and was in guarded condition.

CDC and Health Department officials were called to the hospital back on Sept. 22 to conduct an investigation into the mold problem.

On Monday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health released a statement on reopening of the transplant program. It reads in part:

"Though transplants can resume, UPMC with will be submitting a corrective action plan to the Department with enhanced infection control and prophylactic measures designed to ensure patient safety recommended by the CDC that includes but not limited to: mold remediation of the cardiothoracic intensive care unit; optimizing patient placement and preventive medication to best protect them from mold spores, use of UV disinfecting robots; instituting additional cleaning procedures; replacement of micro filters in all air handling units; and a new handling process for hospital linen. An increase in surveillance to detect mold in all UPMC facilitates will also be implemented. Moving forward, the Department will be aggressively monitoring execution of these measures."

To read the full statement, click here.

There's no word yet on what caused the outbreak.

Stay with KDKA for the latest on this developing story.

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