PITTSBURGH — An autopsy report obtained by Channel 11's new partners at TribLIVE on Wednesday revealed that a recent UPMC transplant patient who died had contracted the same type of mold infection that led to others' deaths.
Daniel Krieg, 56, died July 9 at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Oakland.
TribLIVE reported that the autopsy report stated Krieg developed bacterial and fungal pneumonia.
The autopsy stated that his lungs contained rhizopus, a form of mold. He became the fifth known UPMC patient with a fungal infection to die since 2014 amid an ongoing federal investigation into mold cases at UPMC, according to TribLIVE.
"UPMC's autopsy report could not be (clearer), listing the primary cause of Dan's multi-organ failure as the same fungal infection that ravaged Che DuVall and possibly others," Krieg's attorney Brendan Lupetin told TribLIVE, adding he is considering a lawsuit in connection with Krieg's death.
The hospital released a statement earlier that the fungal infection did not play a direct part in Krieg’s death, which has been contradicted by UPMC’s own pathologist’s autopsy results.
"The family was originally disturbed when there was a statement made by UPMC that a fungal infection did not directly play a role in Dan's death, but now we have the actual proof," Lupetin said.
UPMC officials declined to comment Wednesday.
Hospital officials previously said they had made the suggested changes after the investigation.
"We have difficulty believing they're going to do anything to correct this situation," Jerry Meyer, the Krieg’s family attorney said.
The Center for Disease and Prevention Control sent Channel 11 the following statement regarding Krieg's death.
Channel 11's Aaron Martin recieved the following statement from the Pennsylvania State Health Department.