Three heater-cooler units — equipment used to heat and cool patients during heart surgery — tested positive for Legionella bacteria at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, according to an article on the Becker's Infection Control & Clinical Quality website.
The bacteria infected four patients at the hospital with Legionnaires' disease. Two of the infected patients died.
The source of the outbreak has been linked to the hospital's water system as bacteria was detected in an ice machine and two sinks in the cardiac unit.
Though the water used to run the heater-cooler units does not come into direct contact with patients, the equipment has been linked to other outbreaks involving pathogens, the article said.
Avoiding Mistakes in Healthcare Site Selection
Can Rural Hospitals Be Saved?
Ascension Saint Thomas Breaks Ground on Hospital and Health Campus in Tennessee
The Hidden Risks of QAC Disinfectants in Healthcare Facilities
Sprinkler Compliance: Navigating Code Mandates, Renovation Triggers and Patient Safety