WellSpan York Hospital in York, Pa., has alerted open-heart surgery patients of possible exposure to bacteria during surgery, according to an article on the Infection Control Today website.
The bacterium – a nontuberculous mycobacterium, or NTM – is commonly found in nature, including soil, water and even tap water.
In some rare cases it can cause infections in patients who have had invasive healthcare procedures, especially in people with weakened immune systems.
WellSpan completely replaced its heater-cooler devices with new equipment in late July.
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