Seattle Children's Closes 10 Operating Rooms Until Late January

SEATTLE, WA — Ten operating rooms will remain closed at Seattle Children's until the end of January, while crews work to install new air filtration systems in response to a recurring mold problem, the hospital announced Thursday. All main operating rooms were closed Wednesday to allow for a thorough inspection after aspergillus mold was detected during routine tests over the weekend.

Aspergillus is commonly found in the air but can present dangers for those with a respiratory illness, chronic conditions, or undergoing surgery. Since last year, the hospital has identified at least seven patients with infections related to the mold, including one child who died. The Seattle Times reports a lawsuit filed last month alleges the hospital's mold problem caused an infection that left a boy disabled.

According to Seattle Children's, crews will work over the next three months to install custom, in-room HEPA filtration systems in 10 operating rooms and two storage rooms.

"HEPA is an extremely effective filtration system that removes more than 99 percent of particles from the air passing through the filter," a hospital spokesperson said in a statement. "Installing in-room HEPA filtration requires custom-building a system for each operating room – an extraordinary measure – but one that we know is the right thing to do for our patients and families."

Surgeries that must be performed at Seattle Children's will take place in three operating rooms already equipped with HEPA systems. Other surgeries will be postponed or sent to neighboring hospitals, including UW Medical Center, Harborview, and Swedish. The hospital acknowledged the lengthy closure would delay many planned surgeries, and apologized for the impact to families.

Seattle Children's CEO Dr. Jeff Sperring is scheduled to participate in a press conference Monday at 10 a.m.