Laboratory Technologist Roger Knauf, tests for COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus at Gravity Diagnostics in Covington, Kentucky Tuesday, March 24, 2020. The work is conducted in a secure area and the actual test is done behind glass. The lab was founded in 2014 and was approved for COVID-19 testing on March 16.
San Diego, California – Children’s Hospital San Diego has detected low levels of Legionella bacteria in one of its inpatient units, prompting immediate disinfection efforts. While the bacteria is commonly found in water and poses little risk to healthy individuals, it can lead to serious illness in vulnerable populations, including seniors, former smokers, and individuals with weakened immune systems.
The discovery was confirmed in a statement to NBC 7, in which a hospital spokesperson said, “A low level of Legionella bacteria was detected in one of the hospital’s inpatient units. Legionella is a common bacteria found in water that typically poses little risk to healthy individuals.”
Legionella bacteria, which can thrive in plumbing and HVAC systems, spreads primarily through inhalation of contaminated water mist. According to Dr. Tom Csanadi, a pediatric medicine specialist with 30 years of experience, the bacteria can be present in restrooms of large facilities, including hospitals, and may lead to pneumonia-like symptoms in those affected.
“It’s a bacterial infection. The vast majority of people who get exposed to the bacteria do not get sick, but those that do can develop pneumonia or a more significant version,” said Dr. Csanadi.
Symptoms of Legionella infection, commonly known as Legionnaires’ disease, typically appear within two to three days of exposure and can include fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache, nausea, and body aches. This discovery has raised concerns among parents, including Jovon Price, who expressed unease about the hospital’s safety measures.
“You bring your kid to the hospital, you want it to be a safe environment, you can only do so much with bottled water,” Price told NBC 7.
A viewer tip received by NBC 7 suggested that hospital staff had resorted to using bottled water and baby wipes for handwashing due to concerns about water safety. However, the hospital has taken swift action to mitigate any risks, implementing a comprehensive sanitization process to cleanse its water system.
“The disinfection process is expected to be completed Sunday overnight, with the water supply returning to normal by Monday morning,” the hospital spokesperson confirmed.
Legionella outbreaks, while rare, can pose significant health risks if not promptly addressed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that the bacteria is generally harmless to most people but can be dangerous to those with underlying health conditions.
As Children’s Hospital San Diego works to restore safe water access, hospital officials are assuring patients, staff, and visitors that all necessary precautions are being taken to prevent any potential infections. The hospital has not reported any confirmed cases of illness linked to the detected bacteria at this time.
