Aspergiliosis

[Songhurst]

Anyone else contracted invasive aspergiliosis from wheat filled microwaveable wheat filled heat packs .. I did following mastectomy .. beware these heat packs ..

[DrGraham]

Hello - I work for the National Aspergillosis Centre and am interested in your observation. Are you being treated by us? Have the wheat filled packs been tested for Aspergillus?

[Songhurst in reply to DrGraham]

The infection was diagnosed in sept 2012 ... was treated initially with broad spectrum IV antibiotics and when there was no improvement I was taken to theatre and the expander removed .. they told me the cavity was filled with pus and that swabs taken had grown Aspergilius Fumigata ... I was then treated for 2 weeks with IV Voriconazole 3 times a day , sent home on oral voriconazole but readmitted 4 days later and had another 2 week course of IV Voriconazole ... the infection subsided and have had no problems since .. my expander was replaced in December 2012 and there were no signs of reinfection .... I put 2 and 2 together on returning home when I had read up a little on Aspergilium and threw the wheat filled heat pack ( in the form of a cuddly Hippo) away .. it was purchased from a Christmas market in Bath for my daughter for xmas 2011 .. I have to say after microwaving it smelt pretty rank ! .. but gave me some relief from the discomfort of the tissue expander