A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at Mount Carmel Grove City hospital in Ohio has sickened 13 people and led to the death of one. Dr. Amy Acton, Director of the Ohio Department of Health Director has ordered the newly opened hospital to take immediate action to contain the outbreak or cease accepting new patients. The first patient was diagnosed with the severe form of pneumonia on April 29, one day after the hospital opened. Those sickened were believed to have been exposed between April 27th and May 24th.
“We applaud the health department’s swift and decisive action,” said Fred Pritzker, who, along with Eric Hageman, leads the Pritzker Hageman Legionnaires’ Disease Team that recently recovered a $3 million Legionnaires’ Disease wrongful death settlement. “It is stunning that a new hospital would not have a proper water management system in place.”
People get Legionnaires’ disease when they inhale water vapor that is contaminated with Legionella bacteria. It is not transmitted through person-to-person contact. Legionella exist in nature and thrive in warm water. Outbreaks are frequently associated with complex water systems in commercial buildings, cruise ships and hospitals which disperse the contaminated water vapor through shower heads, fountains and other items. Regular testing and maintenance can prevent an overgrowth of Legionella.
Lillian Lyle, 90, was one of the ten people sickened during her brief hospital stay May 18 -May 20. But after she was discharged she became very weak, her grandson told the Columbus Dispatch. She was readmitted and diagnosed with a severe form of pneumonia in both lungs.
The hospital has been ordered to:
- Flush all of the building’s water lines.
- Immediately disinfect all water lines and fixtures.
- Test and clean all ice machines.
- Clean and service the two on-sight cooling towers.
- Provide all test results to the Ohio Department of Health.
- Provide a water management plan to the Ohio Department of Health.
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Health officials are advising anyone who has recently stayed at the hospital and developed symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease to see a doctor. These symptoms include headache, high fever, muscle aches, cough and shortness of breath.
Some people, including smokers, those over 50, or people with chronic lung disease or weakened immune systems, are at elevated risk for Legionnaires’ disease. Each year, about 6,100 cases of Legionnaires’ disease are reported. About one-tenth of all cases are fatal.
Contact our Legionnaires’ Team for a free consultation about your case by calling 1 (888) 377-8900 (toll-free), sending a text to 612-261-0856. Or, by completing the form below.
UPDATED 6/5/19 and 6/6/19 This post was updated to reflect accurate outbreak totals and information about one of the patients.
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