Adam Retmock thought his suffering was over when he received a life-saving heart transplant. Six weeks later he is dead. Now there are fears that others could succumb to the same disease that took his life
The second of a group of patients who contracted a fatal fungal infection at a Brisbane hospital has died just six weeks after a life-saving heart transplant.
Adam Retmock, 45, was one of five patients at Prince Charles Hospital involved in the infection cluster and the second to succumb to the disease.
He is survived by his devastated wife Kelly Richards, who told 7News her husband could not tolerate the lingering pain caused by post-surgery complications.
Adam Retmock, 45, was one of five patients at Prince Charles Hospital involved in the infection cluster and the second to succumb to the disease
Mr Retmock is survived by his devastated wife Kelly Richards
“After the transplant there were a number of complications… Adam had developed a fungal infection,” Ms Richards said.
Despite weeks of treatments and procedures to treat the infection, Mr Retmock died in hospital on Friday, November 10.
“He said, ‘I’m done, I can’t continue this level of suffering,’” Ms Richards said.
‘My understanding is that if he had not contracted this infection he would still be here.
“That last week of his life could have been so much better.”
A hospital spokesperson said reviews of the other four cases involving fungal infections acquired at the Brisbane hospital were in the “early stages”.
“Despite extensive testing, no link has been established between the fungal infections identified in the five heart transplant patients and the hospital,” they said.
‘It is clear that the patient experienced several complications after the transplant.
‘Transplant patients are among our most vulnerable patients and can be susceptible to various diseases and infections in the community, especially once they return home.’
Mr Retmock died in hospital on Friday, November 10
While the other four patients, all of whom were transplant recipients, were sent home, Mr. Retmock never left the hospital.
All affected patients received prophylactic antifungal treatment.
Early analysis identified four different fungal infection strains in the five patients, only one of which was the strain found at Prince Charles Hospital.
It was also reported by 7News that high levels of mold were found in the area where equipment used to retrieve transplant organs was stored, although this was not confirmed by the hospital.
Mr Retmock’s family said he only learned he might die from the infection while in hospital watching the news, and that his doctors had not told him this.
“He should have known from the hospital because he was a very brave person,” Ms Retmock said.
‘I would like there to be perhaps better communication with the other families who are still involved, and all the information to be explained more clearly to them.
“I will miss him forever.”
It is understood that another heart transplant patient died in September from multiple complications.