Multiyear environmental surveillance in a pediatric teaching hospital: association between airborne mold spores and invasive mold infections

Airborne fungal infections pose a serious threat to vulnerable patient populations, yet the value of routine environmental monitoring in healthcare settings has long been debated. A new research study sheds light on this critical question by examining the relationship between airborne fungal load (AFL) and invasive mold infections (IMI) in a pediatric hospital environment.

During a five-year period, researchers conducted monthly AFL sampling across eleven hospital units and monitored 78 cases of IMI. While no significant association was observed across the hospital as a whole, the study revealed striking results in hematology/oncology units. Even small increases in airborne fungal counts were linked to significantly higher rates of invasive mold infection in these high-risk patients. Notably, Aspergillus species were found to drive a dramatic increase in infection rates, underscoring the importance of early detection and environmental controls in these specialized care settings.

Practices regarding measurement AFL and surveillance for IMI vary widely among infection prevention (IP) programs at U.S. hospitals. These findings highlight the critical need for targeted environmental surveillance in hospitals, particularly in units treating immunocompromised patients. Regular monitoring of AFL can help identify periods of elevated risk and guide timely interventions to protect patients.

EH&E’s Bryan Connors, MS, CIH, HEM co-authored this article with Bethany Phillips MPH, CIC, Zackary M. Most MD MSc, Patricia Jackson RN MA CIC FAPIC, and Michael E. Sebert MD.

Read more in the full article published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.