SEATTLE (AP) - The Seattle Children’s Hospital has avoided federal punishment after fixing the cause of mold infections in its patients.

The Seattle Times reported Wednesday that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Monday it will not terminate its program agreement after the hospital upgraded its air-filtration system attributed to mold infections in patients earlier this year.

Health officials say 14 operating rooms were closed after Aspergillus mold sickened more than five patients, and resulted in the death of another.

Officials say about 1,000 surgeries were either postponed or moved to other facilities.

Officials say the hospital reopened operating rooms in July.

Federal investigators say the agreement was scheduled to be terminated Sept. 19, but an Aug. 7 investigation found the facility to be in compliance with state requirements.

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Information from: The Seattle Times, http://www.seattletimes.com

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